Campus Ministers Meet

Campus ministries are a place where college Christians gather to be seen and heard. Students find belonging, welcome, and safety in the programs and fellowship that is offered. Campus Ministers met with Bishop Miller in February to share updates from their sites.

At Commonwealth University at Mansfield, Mara Wilcox shared that students appreciate a place to discuss faith and mental health from a spiritual perspective. Her office has a prayer room where students can stop to send time with God. Wilcox has been in her position for six years and serves as associate pastor of Church of the New Covenant in Mansfield (Assemblies of God).

At Penn College in Williamsport, English Professor Shelley Myers has served as advisor to United Campus Ministry for four years.  A local pastor holds a Bible Study every Monday night. Every other Wednesday, students get together during “Deep Dive” to talk further about the Bible study.  Two students go out around campus for “Walk and Witness” Wednesday to network with students and pray together. Rise Up Penn College is a praise and worship event that is held once a semester on campus. Myers says she talks a lot to students about their identity in Christ as they often look for their worth in what others think about them.

At Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State, Deacon Alica Anderson has overseen student faith connections there for 29 years. She leads Thursday night worship and hosts dinner with conversation afterward. She is also available on Sunday mornings to greet students who attend Grace Lutheran Church in downtown State College. Grace also invites students to a Wednesday night meal. Among other programs they do, they usually go on a spring break mission trip. Anderson says that in the last five years, students tend to be more willing to discuss their anxiety as it applies to college and life in general.

Synod funding helps to support the faith formation of young adults, provide opportunities for leadership development, and form connections to the larger church. In addition to these three, the synod grants financial support to campus ministries at Bloomsburg and Susquehanna University.