Jewell’s Christian Student Ministries provide spiritual connections

Story by Peter Inzerillo
Director of Student Ministries

For 155 years, William Jewell College has partnered with students in both their intellectual and spiritual development, providing multiple opportunities to enrich their individual journeys of faith.

As one of the most active departments on campus, Christian Student Ministries (CSM) offers a rich variety of programming. A group of 35 students direct the entire ministry program, which involves 160 students leading and serving on 20 ministry teams.

Following are some “snapshots” of current program highlights:

Worship. More than 200 students gather each week for Worship Jam, a student-led worship service on Thursday nights in Gano Chapel. Different groups are asked each week to lead worship and speak at the weekly event. This is in addition to a weekly Chapel service, which typically draws over 300 students, faculty and staff each week. The CSM Worship Team also hosts a worship event each semester in which different students lead worship each hour for 30 hours in a relaxed setting in Browning Theater.

Prayer is also a part of Jewell’s ministry, and students gather every Monday morning to pray for campus needs and world concerns. In ministry Jewell’s Christian Student Ministries provide spiritual connections addition, more than 200 students, faculty and staff are part of the campus email prayer chain, and are able to pray for concerns in a more immediate fashion.

Discipleship. Students lead weekly Bible studies all over campus, with the focus on growth and accountability. This semester’s small groups are studying myriad topics, including relationships (Song of Solomon), Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, world missions, living in Christ and apologetics, as well as various studies on different books of the Bible. Men’s and Women’s ministries also host weekly small groups; more than 135 students have been involved this year in small groups.

CSM recruits, trains and places “Shepherds” in each residence hall. Shepherds act as spiritual mentors in each hall and house. These individuals also serve as ‘big brothers and sisters’ in firstyear halls, helping students get connected and being available for whatever needs arise. This year 36 students serve as Shepherds. Their goal is to build relationships, plan Bible studies, activities and mission projects, and pray for their residents. In addition, they distribute Bibles to each new student –a gift from Dr Sallee.

Fellowship. The CSM Greek Ministry Team hosts a weekly gathering for Christians in the Greek system. Each week fraternity men meet in a different house and sorority women meet in Semple Hall for fellowship, encouragement and Bible study. Each month, the groups get together for a coed outreach event in a fraternity house, which attracts more than 80 students.

Jewell’s ministry program also includes a Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle group, where WJC athletes meet weekly for Bible study and fellowship. The group reaches out to athletes in every sport, and uses the time to encourage members to stand and grow in their faith.

Outreach. The CSM International Ministry is made up of Jewell students who have a heart for the many international students who attend Jewell each year. This ministry team plans activities to get to know the internationals, and to help enrich their experience in the U.S. In building relationships, the team also hopes to build bridges that allow for faith sharing.

The CSM Outreach Team focuses each month on hosting a campus coffeehouse in the Student Union, where students and local Christian artists perform. Students share stories about how God is working in their lives, with a goal of sharing the Christian faith in a manner that is more accessible to those who may not be interested in other CSM activities. Each month the event draws more than 120 students and local youth.

Missions. The CSM Missions Team plans monthly service projects for the local community, as well as a Spring Break Mission Trip. This year’s trip to New Jersey involves a partnership with Madison Baptist Church along with some inner-city youth work in New York City. The team also hosts a campus-wide service day in conjunction with Homecoming. More than 180 students participated last fall serving organizations in the Kansas City area.

Other student mission opportunities include student-led Spring Break trips to Mexico, a Florida Habitat for Humanity project, and a summer project to Haiti. CSM also trains and sends eight students in the spring to serve on our Summer Ministry Team. This group serves throughout Missouri for ten weeks in June and July, leading worship and assisting in various youth camps and children’s Bible school programs. For more information on the Student Ministry program at Jewell, please visit our web site: csm.jewell.edu. If you would like to receive a quarterly email update on ministry