Ministry: Christian Challenge

Role: Campus Missionary

Mission Statement:

We exist to reach students with the gospel, train them to live and share the gospel, and send them to campus and to the ends of the earth with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Tell us about your journey to becoming a Campus Missionary:

I first got involved at Christian Challenge when I came to MWSU as a freshman in 2016. I joined the leadership team and helped lead life groups and worship while I was a student. Then, through serving and being discipled, God gave me a desire to make disciples rather than pursuing any other career which led me to intern here at Christian Challenge under Paul Damery from 2020-2024. In 2022 I started working on an Masters of Divinity degree at MBTS, which I’m still working on. When Paul left to be the lead pastor at Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church in the summer of 2024, I was called to serve full-time at Christian Challenge!

What do you love about doing ministry on your campus?

I love getting to watch students grow in their relationship with Christ and boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus on campus. It’s especially fun for me because I know the campus and the challenges of being a student and trying to share the Gospel on our campus, so I’m always encouraged to hear stories of how they’re sharing Jesus with classmates and doing what I wish I’d done as a student!

Tell us about yourself and your family:

I just got married August 10th of 2024 to Juliana. We met at our church in town but we really got to know each other when she started coming to Christian Challenge. We both love the outdoors and coffee, so we’re excited to lead camping trips with the students. If you catch us at our apartment we’re always happy to sit down for a cup of coffee with anyone. Juliana makes the lattes, and I make the pour overs!

What do you hope to see happen on your campus/within your ministry in the next few years?

My hope is to see God work on campus through the students of Christian Challenge in such a way that it spreads to the rest of St. Joseph and causes us and everyone to marvel at what God has done!

What are some of the things your ministry does?

We have a free meal provided by local churches on Thursday evenings at 6pm followed by worship & a message at 7pm. We also have student-led life groups that gather to study the Bible together and build gospel-centered friendships throughout the week. Our students often also hangout together playing Smash Bros, sand volleyball and pickleball or just working on homework together (with coffee-assisted energy) on campus.