CSU campus ministries experiences increase in student involvement

Danielle Crowe chose not to spend Christmas with her family. Instead, she spent two weeks in China with five other Charleston Southern students and 54 other college students, throwing “Happy Birthday, Jesus” parties and performing Christmas programs in the park. “The reward was a lot greater than the sacrifice of not being with my family,” said Danielle, who feels called to international missions. “For once, Christmas was not about me. It was about giving the gift of something meaningful.”

This year, 430 students were involved in missions activities. Students participated in 31 mission trips, including Charleston Southern’s first fall break mission trip to New Orleans and a medical mission trip to India during spring break.

Over the past year, 558 students have served in local, national or international missions, and this summer more than 100 students and faculty are serving in 14 different countries.

“Mission trips really transform people’s lives,” said Clark Carter, campus minister. “It’s a time when you are away and see new people, new things and have completely different experiences.”

There were also many opportunities to serve on the local level. Last November, 60 students joined a fleet of 800 volunteers, local businesses and 64 Charleston-area churches for the Convoy of Hope. Residents received help with groceries, free medical and dental aid, and job placement services. Thirty worship services were held both in English and Spanish. This life-changing ministry reached 5,300 Charleston-area residents, with 352 accepting Christ as Savior.

In January, about 100 students participated in Resolution, a dynamic evangelistic ministry. WJNI Gospel Radio, Fox 24 television station, local businesses and churches partnered together, reaching out to 1,300 high school-age minority students. These students flocked to Lightsey Chapel Auditorium for free giveaways, a Step and Dance Competition, and to hear the gospel. During this event, five people came to know Christ.

“This has been our best year since I’ve been here,” said Carter, who is coming up on his four-year anniversary. “There has been more student involvement and consistent growth in all areas of ministry.”

The preparation for ministry off campus begins with on-campus Bible study, worship and training. The fall semester saw the addition of a new freshman ministry called Emerge. This ministry involves mature Christian upperclassmen living in freshmen dorms. They helped new students adjust to campus life, offered support and started Bible studies. This was a very successful first year for the new ministry, and there are plans to expand the program for next year.

Elevate — the weekly worship service on campus — averaged an attendance of 200 students on Wednesday evenings. Spring semester numbers increased over fall’s attendance as popular guest speakers included, among others, Brad Stine and David Nasser. There was also a record number of Bible studies on campus, with 350 students involved in about 40 study groups.

Over this past year, at least 50 students at Charleston Southern came to know Christ. Through involvement in various campus ministries, 378 other people accepted Christ. As Carter said, “It’s not all about the numbers; it’s about the people those numbers represent. It’s about making a difference where we live and how we live.”