Campus Program in Arizona Reaches Many

The following information is from Fred Casmir of Flagstaff, Arizona.

The campus OUTREACH ministry, from the Northern Arizona Church of Christ near Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, has produced outstanding results.  Campus evangelist Tyler Ellis leads the work along with the help of the congregation’s evangelist Terry Haynie.  Many others from the fifty member congregation assist with the work while other congregations provide support through prayer and financial assistance.  Over the past four years, this ministry has led forty-one students to baptism into Christ.

Following a year-long effort to get the ministry accepted as a registered on-campus organization, the last four years have brought an unusual level of success.  The ministry seeks both to convert university students to Christ and to prepare Christian students for future service through an extensive training and teaching program called I-Witness.  This study, along with their other programs, gets students ready for that time when they will leave the university as professionals to move all over the world.  The ministry works especially with international student because of their potential to serve the Lord when they return to their home countries.

Campus registration under the name of Vintage Fellowship allows the church full access to all campus facilities and advertising opportunities.  The church defines this ministry as “... a non-denominational student organization at Northern Arizona University, sponsored by Northern Arizona Church of Christ. We exist to help students who are familiar with God to own their faith, and students who are not familiar with God to find their faith so that we might “graduate” missionaries.”

The ministry has developed a number of effective ways to contact students.  The evangelist volunteers to pick up new students from the airport every semester which allows him to make early contacts with international students and to work with administrators in the International Student Office.  In addition, the ministry sets up a booth in the Student Union each week where students can talk with Tyler Ellis, the campus minister, fill out contact cards, and receive an invitation to campus events which the campus ministry sponsors. 

Each term, the ministry places posters in every dormitory announcing the weekly meetings.  They also place “table-tents” at each of the cafeteria tables and in other places to announce their studies and activities.

The I-Witness series is designed to prepare all students for future service , but it is especially meaningful to “new” Christians.  This study program often leads students with questions or who have a desire to know more to set up personal studies with one of the ministers.

Small group studies, both for men and women, provide additional study opportunities and a weekly small-group potluck reaches others.  Student leaders help with many of these studies and services.  Each term, the ministry hosts public events on campus which bring students and members of the Northern Arizona congregation together. 

Members of the congregation often mentor international students who need assistance with English or with particular courses, and these contacts often lead to opportunities for Bible study.  Regular outings for fellowship, fun, and study along with an annual mission trip to an Arizona Indian reservations also provides more opportunities to learn and to serve.  Sports and recreational activities also provide contacts between members and students.  Student members of the congregation also assist in leading both in the Sunday morning and in the Sunday evening services.

Through all of these means, the campus outreach ministry has been able to serve and strengthen many who are already members of the church and to reach out to convert several each year who are not members.  The congregation specifically seeks to prepare students to use themselves in the Lord’s kingdom wherever they may go.

If you want to know more about this work, or wish to discuss the possibility of assisting financially, contact Fred L. Casmir, Campus/College Age Ministry, Northern Arizona Church of Christ. Tel: (928) 527-1765.  E-mail: mcasmir@hotmail.com