Adapting For The Win
For years, Campus Outreach has maximized the weeks of summer to provide college students with opportunities for intentional growth. Greeks, cheerleaders, independents, ball players, and more have descended onto the Gulf and Atlantic beaches for ten weeks of discipleship training, evangelism, and life-changing FUN. As time has passed, the pressures on students have changed, especially for what is required of men on college football teams. Scholarships now often require student-athletes to be on campus year-round for conditioning training, and leadership positions often demand their constant presence on campus. Because of this, CO campus staff are thinking outside the box to meet the gospel needs of this influential campus demographic.
One such adaptation has been the Mini-Camp. For four years, Campus Outreach has hosted an evangelistically intense beach retreat for football players. Each year, current NFL Player and CO Alum DeMario Davis has spoken and mesmerized these young men who look up to him as having “everything they want.” As DeMario shares the gospel and its impact on his life as a player, husband, father, and laborer, phones are forgotten, attention is captured, and hearts are changed. The opportunities for follow-up throughout the summer are a natural outflow from building relationships.
Jalin, a football player at the University of West Georgia, surrendered his life to Christ’s lordship at Mini-Camp. As a freshman who played his first year, Jalin traveled on the team bus and “lost himself” as he attempted to fit in with older guys who were a negative influence. Between sessions at camp, he pulled the staff aside and exclaimed, "I'm ready — I'm ready to follow Christ!" They talked, and Jalin prayed right there in the hallway! He has been meeting in a small group and is excited about living and playing for God's glory!
Campus Outreach has seen 40+ years of successful ministry, but as culture changes on and off the campus, ministry changes are a must. Jalin had this opportunity at Mini-Camp because someone was willing to pivot. Every idea might not be gold, but in this case, adapting brought a win.