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Our Vision
Our vision is to Glorify God by Building Laborers on the Campus for the Lost World. We seek to build laborers with a commitment to Jesus and His Great Commission through evangelism and discipleship. By engaging in this work for over 40 years, Campus Outreach has grown into a world-class leadership development organization. We are focused on building leader development pipelines through local churches, preparing today's students to shape tomorrow's world. To learn more visit www.campusoutreach.org.
Glorifying God
because the ultimate purpose of God and all His creation is to glorify Him forever
by building laborers
because the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few
on the campus
because it is one of the most strategic fields due to student population density, student availability, student openness, and student potential
for the lost world.
because there is a need for leaders and laborers to be mobilized to have a Gospel-centered impact around the world
Our History
Campus Outreach began in 1978 as the college ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL. As the ministry began to grow into the state of Georgia, a local church adopted the staff ministering in that region, and thus the growth-model from Campus Outreach formed. Since then, Campus Outreach has expanded to over 20 regions through partnerships with local churches. In 2012, Northwest Presbyterian Church partnered with Campus Outreach staff to begin the Columbus region at Ohio State University and Bowling Green State University. Since then, we’ve added the University of Cincinnati and Wittenberg University to our region.
Our Vehicle
Our Distinctives
Commitment to Evangelism
Commitment to Discipleship
Commitment to Leader Development
Commitment to the Local Church
Campus Outreach began by asking, “Where are the students whom no one else is reaching?” This focus has continually led CO to focus on students without an understanding of the gospel.
As students trust in Christ, they are engaged in life-on-life discipleship. As students are engaged in this process, we see God grow them from being spiritually lost to becoming spiritual leaders.
Today’s graduates are tomorrow’s marketplace and ministry leaders. We focus on developing and deploying those leaders. Through evangelism and discipleship, we provide emerging leaders with catalytic growth opportunities and experiences and then launch these leaders into vocational ministry and the marketplace. Our goal is to teach and train students to walk deeply with Christ and minister to others in their sphere of influence, on the campus, in the world, and for a lifetime.
Commitment to the local church: As an interdenominational Christian ministry, Campus Outreach believes in a strong relationship with the church. Each regional ministry is under the authority and leadership of a local hub church, which provides a crucial source of accountability, leadership, and resources. Campus Outreach Columbus is under the leadership and authority of Northwest Presbyterian Church.
Life-on-life relationships
Campus Outreach believes the best spiritual training takes place in the context of relationships. We emphasize the importance of life-on-life relationships: one individual sharing his or her life with another to the end that new believers are born, discipled, and grow to maturity. We desire to live out the Gospel in our relationships among students, with staff, among the various Campus Outreach ministries, and in the body of Christ.
Fundraising
The Campus Outreach Columbus staff are responsible to raise their own financial support, whether from giving individuals, local churches, alumni, and/or businesses that directly invest in supporting the advancement of the gospel on each campus. All contributions are tax-deductible. A portion of the Campus Outreach budget is given by Northwest Presbyterian Church in Dublin OH, including 100% of administrative expenses. This makes it possible to have no administrative charge taken from supporter gifts. 100% of every gift goes directly to the needs and ministry of the staff person supported.
What others are saying about us...
Dave Schutter
"After seven years my enthusiasm for our partnership with Campus Outreach Columbus has only grown. College students are hearing the gospel of grace, learning to follow Jesus on campus, and entering the marketplace, graduate school, and vocational ministry -- all while being directed toward involvement in the local church. I believe CO Columbus will make a huge difference for Christ in central Ohio in the generation to come."
— Dave Schutter, Senior Pastor at Northwest Presbyterian Church, Campus Outreach Columbus’ Hub Church in Dublin, OH
John Piper
"I love Campus Outreach. It is radically God-centered and radically in love with college students who need Christ. It is a growing global movement that I support with joy. To see the Christ-exalting fruit that comes in the conversion and spiritual growth of students through the work of Campus Outreach is deeply satisfying."
— John Piper, Founder of Desiring God Ministries
Jason Cook
"Campus Outreach is an organization that not only desired to reflect Kingdom diversity but continually gives up power, listens to wise men and women of color, and empowers minorities to lead. They are a gospel-centered, disciple-making, local-church-loving organization that is beginning to see the Kingdom of God reflected across their campuses."
- Jason Cook, Associate Pastor at Fellowship Memphis