Longhorn ChroniclesUniversity of Texas at Austin | 2015-2016 School Year

© 2016 Campus Renewal | Austin, Texas

Campus Ministries

By the end of the school year, there were a total of 58 campus ministries at UT Austin.

• 25 church-based ministries • 23 parachurch ministries • 6 student-led ministries • 4 denominational-alliance ministries

Also, 5 new ministries were birthed and 6 ministries ceased operations.

Campus Ministries

4

Campus Ministry Growth

0

10

20

30

40

2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

1414

9

141615

2120

2830

35

29

No. of ministries that grew No. of ministries that lost No. that stayed the same

5

Campus Ministers

There were 235 campus ministers at UT Austin.

• 170 full time • 65 part time • 118 female • 117 male • 206 on campus weekly

Plus 994 non-staff volunteers

Campus Ministers

8

Ethnicity Breakdown

414

26

30

157

64%

20%

10%

17%

45%

4%

African American Anglo Asian American International Latino Other

UT Student Body (%) No. of Campus Ministers9

Christian Students

Student Involvement

50,950 total students were enrolled. 6,178 (12.13%) of them were involved in campus ministry in one way or another.

• 4,870 (71%) attended large group worship services • 4,199 (61%) were part of small groups • 1,494 (22%) were active in leadership • 824 (12%) attended prayer meetings • 1,087 (16%) went on mission trips • 1,143 (17%) participated in service projects

12

Student Involvement

276 students from other colleges and universities in the Austin area were involved in campus ministry.

• 212 at Austin Community College • 28 at St. Edwards University • 14 at Texas State University • 3 at Concordia University • 19 at Other Colleges and Universities

A total of 6,454 students were involved in campus ministry at Austin area colleges and universities.

13

Ethnic Groups Involved

Breakdown of campus ministry involvement by the varying ethnic groups:

• 13.4% of African American students • 16.1% of Anglo students • 11.1% of Asian American students • 13.6% of International students • 4.8% of Latino students • 4.3% of Other students

14

Percentage of student involvement based on classification:

• 14.4% of Undergraduate students • 24.2% of Freshmen • 17.3% of Sophomores • 11.9% of Juniors • 8.7% of Seniors • 4.0% of Graduate and Postdoc students

Classification Breakdown

*Numbers may be skewed because UT Austin classifies by number of hours while campus ministries most often classify by years

15

International Students

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA - 1,224 REPUBLIC OF KOREA - 737 INDIA - 628 MEXICO - 530 TAIWAN - 189 CANADA - 103 IRAN - 84

UNITED KINGDOM - 83 BRAZIL - 78 TURKEY - 68 FRANCE - 66 COLOMBIA - 66 NIGERIA - 58 GERMANY - 58 AUSTRALIA - 53 INDONESIA - 51 PAKISTAN - 50

JAPAN - 48 SPAIN - 48 VIETNAM SOCIALIST REPUBLIC - 48 SAUDI ARABIA - 38 CHILE - 35 THAILAND - 34 SINGAPORE - 33 ITALY - 31

*These are the only countries and numbers listed in UT’s statistical handbook. There are more than 500 more international students from other countries.

16

Campus Outreach

557 students began to follow Jesus

153 students were baptized

103 UT people groups were being reached through 148 missional communities

1,416 students regularly share their faith

271 students led a friend to faith in Jesus

14,255 unbelieving students were reached by campus ministries

1,754 unbelieving students were involved in campus ministries

Campus Outreach

18

People Groups

ABSA (AACM) African American Community (Cru, Texas Gospel Fellowship) African Students (Baptist Student Ministry) Alpha Chi Omega (University Catholic & FOCUS) Alpha Delta Pi (University Catholic & FOCUS) Alpha Omnicron Pi (University Catholic & FOCUS) Alpha Phi (University Catholic & FOCUS) Alpha Tau Omega (StuMo, University Catholic & FOCUS) Alpha Xi Delta (University Catholic & FOCUS) American Medical Student Association (Street Youth Ministry) Architecture (Baptist Student Ministry) Asian Greek (AACM)

Athletic Teams (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) AXO (StuMo) Baseball (StuMo) The Block Apartments (Campus Renewal) Business (Baptist Student Ministry, AACM, Christians in Business Organization, Campus Renewal) Callaway Residence (Baptist Student Ministry) Carothers (Austin Stone) Castillion (StuMo) Chi Beta Delta (Baptist Student Ministry) Chi Omega House (Cru) China Care (AACM) CHIO (StuMo) CMI (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Creekside (Koinonia, Gracepoint)

19

149 missional communities reaching 103 people groups

People Groups

Delt (StuMo, Austin Stone) Delta Gamma (StuMo, University Catholic and FOCUS, Midtown Church/HC on Campus) East Asian Students (Baptist Student Ministry) Education Cohort (Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) Engineering (AACM) FIJI (StuMo, RUF) Fine Arts (Baptist Student Ministry, Texas InterVarsity) Football (StuMo) French Club (The Navigators) Freshmen (Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) FSA (AACM) Gregory Gym (Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) Hardin (StuMo)

Hispanic Business Student Association (InterVarsity LaFe) Honors Quad (Austin Stone) House churches (Lifeway) Ignite (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) International Restaurants on the Drag (Wellspring/Travis Christian Assembly) International Students (AACM, Bridges International, International Students Inc., InterVarsity International Student Ministry, Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, RUF-International, The Navigators-International Student Ministry, Austin International Fellowship) Jester (Baptist Student Ministry, StuMo, Longhorns for Christ, h2o Church, Koinonia, Gracepoint, One Way, Cru) Jewish Community (Baptist Student Ministry)

20

149 missional communities reaching 103 people groups

People Groups

KA (StuMo) Kappa (Cru, RUF) Kappa Sigma (StuMo, University Catholic and FOCUS) Kinsolving (Texas InterVarsity, Hope 242, Koinonia, Gracepoint) KKG (StuMo) Korean Internationals (Psalm) Lambda Chi (StuMo) Latino/Hispanic Culture (Cru) Men’s Swimming (University Catholic and FOCUS) Men’s Track and Field (University Catholic and FOCUS) Middle Eastern Students (The Navigators) Muslim Ismaili Student Association (One Way) Natural Science Department (AACM, Campus Renewal) Omega Delta Phi (InterVarsity LaFe)

Pi Phi (StuMo, Cru, Midtown Church/HC on Campus, RUF) Pike House (StuMo, Cru) Plan II (Midtown Church/HC on Campus) Pre-Health (AACM) Project Males (InterVarsity LaFe) Public Health Club (Street Youth Ministry) Racquetball Team (Midtown Church/HC on Campus) Rec Sports (Red River Ministries) SAAB (Midtown Church/HC on Campus) SAE (StuMo, Cru, RUF, Austin Stone) San Jac (University Catholic and FOCUS) Computer Science (Baptist Student Ministry) Scottish Rite Dorm (Baptist Student Ministry) Sig Ep (RUF) Sigma Chi (StuMo, University Catholic and FOCUS)

21

149 missional communities reaching 103 people groups

People Groups

Silver Spurs (Cru, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Social Dance (Epic Dance) South Asian Students (Baptist Student Ministry) Special Ed Cohort (Austin Stone) SRD (StuMo, University Catholic & FOCUS, Cru) Study Abroad (Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) Talk Time (Wellspring/Travis Christian Assembly) Tau Beta Pi (AACM) Texas Cowboys (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Texas Students for Life (University Catholic & FOCUS) Texas Table Top Game Club (The Navigators, Campus Renewal) Theater Department (Texas Gospel Fellowship) Theta (StuMo, Cru, RUF) Tri Delta (StuMo, University Catholic & FOCUS, Austin Stone)

Union (Dwell Church) University Chorus (Campus Renewal) Varsity Baseball Team (Cru, Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) VSA (AACM) West Campus (Hope 242) Women’s Pole Vaulting (University Catholic & FOCUS) Women’s Soccer (University Catholic & FOCUS, Cru) Women's Rowing Team (Baptist Student Ministry) Women's Rugby (Texas Gospel Fellowship) Women's Softball Team (Baptist Student Ministry, Cru) Women's Volleyball Team (Baptist Student Ministry, University Catholic & FOCUS) Wranglers (StuMo) Zeta (StuMo)

22

149 missional communities reaching 103 people groups

Local & Global Outreach

Local Missions

1,143 students served 69 nonprofit organizations

After School Programs (Red River Ministries) Allies Against Slavery (International Justice Mission -Longhorn Chapter) All-Saints Presbyterian Church Youth Group (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) ARCH (Lifeway) ASCE Cheap Lunch (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Austin Achieve (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Austin Caritas (University Catholic and FOCUS) Austin Child Guidance Center (Ignite Texas) Austin ISD (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Austin Parks and Recreation (Christians in Business Organization) Austin Pregnancy Center (Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry, Ignite Texas) Austin Stone (Christians in Business Organization, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Baptist Community Center (ACTS)

Bevoman Triathlon (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Big Fish (AACM) Building Compassion (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship) Campus Renewal (Ignite Texas) Casa Marienella (InterVarsity LaFe, Ignite Texas) Chicon Crisis Pregnancy Center (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship) Church Under the Bridge (Harvest Mission Community Church) Community First! (Longhorns for Christ) Dart Bowl (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Donating Blood (Sigma Phi Lambda) Donuts & Prayer (Ignite Texas) Feed My People (AACM, Epic Movement, Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry, Ignite Texas, Sigma Phi Lambda, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Feed One (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship)

24

Local Missions

1,143 students served 69 nonprofit organizations

For the City Network (Austin Stone) Freeway (Sigma Phi Lambda) Front steps (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship) Good News Club (ACTS) Habitat for Humanity (University Catholic and FOCUS, Austin Stone, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Hill House Clean Up (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Homeless Outreach (Longhorns for Christ, University Catholic and FOCUS, Hope 242, Red River Ministries) Hyde Park (Midtown Church/HC on Campus) IJM Service Project: Hotel Outreach (International Justice Mission-Longhorn Chapter) Imagine Art (Ignite Texas, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) International Office (Harvest Mission Community Church)

Japanese Christian Church (ACTS) LINC/Austin (University Lutheran Church-LCMS) Longhorn Run (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) Parsons Elderly Care (Sigma Phi Lambda) Micah 6:8 Food Pantry (Harvest Mission Community Church, Baptist Student Ministry, Longhorns for Christ, One Way, Coptic Students of Texas, Ignite Texas, Innervisions Gospel Choir) Miscoots (Christians in Business Organization) Mission 4 Life (Wellspring/Travis Christian Assembly) Mission Possible (Ignite Texas) Mobile Loaves and Fishes (Longhorns for Christ, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), Dwell Church, Young Life) Mueller (Midtown Church/HC on Campus) Neighborhood Longhorn Program (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX))

25

Local Missions

1,143 students served 69 nonprofit organizations

Nonprofit Pet Groups (Red River Ministries) Personal Energy Transportation (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) Posada Esperanza (InterVarsity LaFe) Prestonwood Baptist Church Freedom Weekend (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) RBI (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Reagan High (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Redeemed Ministries (Austin Stone, International Justice Mission-Longhorn Chapter) Reed Elementary (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Rez Week (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Rosedale (Midtown Church / HC on Campus) Side By Side Kids (Harvest Mission Community Church, Lifeway)

Soup Kitchen (University Catholic and FOCUS, Midtown Church/HC on Campus) Special Olympics (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Sports Teams (Red River Ministries) Stand for Freedom (Baptist Student Ministry) Stonebriar Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Koinonia, Gracepoint) Street Youth Ministry (Harvest Mission Community Church, Street Youth Ministry, Ignite Texas) Texas-athon (AACM) Thurmond Heights Inner City Ministry (Christians in Business Organization, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Trinity Baptist Church (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) University Avenue Church (Longhorns for Christ) UT Concho Community Garden (Ignite Texas) Young Life (Austin Stone, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)

26

Stateside Missions

Students served in 38 cities

Atlanta, GA (Sigma Phi Lambda) Austin, TX (All Ministries) Belton, TX (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship) Boston, MA (Austin Stone, Christian Students on Campus, Ignite Texas) Branson, MO (Cru) Breckenridge, CO (Cru) Broomfield, CO (Baptist Student Ministry) Colorado Springs, CO (Baptist Student Ministry) Dallas, TX (Cru, Midtown Church/HC on Campus, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), Coptic Students of Texas, Sigma Phi Lambda) Del Rio, TX (Baptist Student Ministry) Denver, CO (Young Life) Destin, FL (Young Life)

Detroit, MI (Harvest Mission Community Church) Fort Worth, TX (Cru) Houston, TX (Baptist Student Ministry, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), Coptic Students of Texas, Sigma Phi Lambda) Jasper, GA (Young Life) La Feria/Harlingen, TX (Wellspring/Travis Christian Assembly) Lafayette, LA (Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship) Lake Buena Vista, FL (Midtown Church/HC on Campus) Los Angeles, CA (Christian Students on Campus) Lubbock, TX (Every Nation Campus)

27

Stateside Missions

Students served in 38 cities

Missouri Areas (ACTS) New Braunfels, TX (Longhorns for Christ) New Mexico Areas (ACTS, University Catholic and FOCUS) New Orleans, LA (Austin Stone, Ignite Texas) New York, NY (Baptist Student Ministry, Bridges International, University Catholic and FOCUS, Cru, Austin Stone, Ignite Texas, Sigma Phi Lambda) Oklahoma City, OK (StuMo) Panama City Beach, FL (StuMo, Cru, Epic Movement) Portland, OR (Baptist Student Ministry) Salado, TX (Longhorns for Christ) San Antonio, TX (Every Nation Campus, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, AACM, Intervarsity LaFe, One Way, Texas Gospel Fellowship)

San Diego, CA (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), The Navigators) San Francisco, CA (Lifeway, Bridges International, Epic Movement, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), Ignite Texas, Sigma Phi Lambda) Seattle, WA (Christians in Business Organization, Austin Stone, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), Ignite Texas) South Padre Island, TX (Baptist Student Ministry, Hope 242, One Way, Midtown Church/HC on Campus, Austin Stone, Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry, Sigma Phi Lambda) Uvalde, TX (Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry) Wildwood, HI (Epic Movement) Worchester, MA (Baptist Student Ministry)

28

Foreign Missions

1,087 students went to 39 countries

Austria (University Catholic and FOCUS) Bolivia (Coptic Students of Texas) Cambodia (ACTS) Canada (Baptist Student Ministry, Austin Stone) China (Baptist Student Ministry, InterVarsity LaFe, Longhorns for Christ, Midtown Church/HC on Campus, Texas Gospel Fellowship) Costa Rica (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Cuba (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Dominican Republic (Longhorns for Christ, University Catholic and FOCUS, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) East Asia (Bridges International, Epic Movement)

Egypt (Lifeway, Red River Ministries, Community Bible Study, Coptic Students of Texas) Germany (Baptist Student Ministry, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Greece (Baptist Student Ministry) Guatemala (University Catholic and FOCUS) Haiti (Baptist Student Ministry, AACM, University Catholic and FOCUS, Christians in Business Organization, Midtown Church/HC on Campus, Austin Stone) Holy Land (University Catholic and FOCUS) Honduras (InterVarsity International Student Ministry, University Catholic and FOCUS, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), Sigma Phi Lambda)

29

Foreign Missions

1,087 students went to 39 countries

India (Baptist Student Ministry, InterVarsity LaFe, Street Youth Ministry, Coptic Students of Texas, Ignite Texas) Indonesia (Baptist Student Ministry, Austin Stone, Sigma Phi Lambda) Ireland (University Catholic and FOCUS) Italy (University Catholic and FOCUS) Jamaica (University Catholic and FOCUS) Japan (AACM, Epic Movement) Kenya (Coptic Students of Texas) Malawi (Longhorns for Christ) Mexico (Every Nation Campus, University Catholic and FOCUS) Middle East (Cru) Nepal (Sigma Phi Lambda) Peru (Harvest Mission Community Church, Lifeway, Longhorns for Christ)

Philippines (Baptist Student Ministry) Russia (University Catholic and FOCUS) San Salvador (Sigma Phi Lambda) Scotland (Christians in Business Organization) South Africa (Every Nation Campus, Baptist Student Ministry) Spain (Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX)) Taiwan (Baptist Student Ministry, Longhorn Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship) Thailand (Baptist Student Ministry, Ignite Texas) Uganda (Hope 242, Sigma Phi Lambda) United Kingdom (Sigma Phi Lambda) Zambia (RUF, Wellspring/Travis Christian Assembly)

30

Ministry Victories

Victories

“God is powerfully at work in our ministry. Students are growing in their faith and seeking to make Christ known. Some are getting saved

and many are challenged to go on missions trips. God is teaching them to be faithful in spending time with Him, seeking out gospel

community, and having gospel conversations.”

“This year God has been growing us in our love for the city of Austin. Over

the last couple of months, we've also seen a number of students receive Christ

as their Savior.”

“We see desire for accountability and discipleship, spiritual

transformation, favor with new people groups, freshmen leaders, and new partnerships for funding

the ministry.”

“God is bringing students to a place where they feel more comfortable to share their salvation story and talk about Jesus. This

year’s group grew closer together because it was a smaller group and everyone who

wanted to got to share their story.”

“We see curiosity about the Gospel,

desire to share the Good News, desire to

be a leader, grow spiritually, take risks.”

“We see increasing missional

heart, seeing value in co-ed small group.”

“We see more love and

stronger bonds among members and newcomers.”

“This year was a great year of seeing students dig deep into being a witnessing community on

campus. I loved seeing the leaders of our witnessing communities take risks, be vulnerable

& invite friends to follow Jesus!”

“We've seen students come to faith and start leading

other students to Christ and helping them grow.”

“12 People committed every week to reach out for 2 hours. In the end they engaged over 87 people with the gospel.”

32

Victories

“As we involve seeking students in helping to lead some activities, God is using it to make space for deepening relationships and spiritual conversations. As we focus on discipling the Christian

students, they are growing in confidence in their faith in the midst of their many non-Christian friends.”

“We see increasing

numbers of baptisms and

faith commitments.”

“We see growth in number of students taking leadership class and student

leaders for next year. Guys stepping into leadership roles. More outreach and evangelism with unbelievers. Greater

heart for missions and service.”

“We see continued growth of

transformational community.”

“I am seeing more students being

very serious about studying the

Bible.”

“God has been working in

alumni's lives and they are still

seeking Him.”

“The main things God is doing is cultivating community and discipleship. The synergy has grown as evidence by the “linger” time after worship and other meetings. We have had a woman join us who has been deeply involved with discipling three students. God has also

brought a Korean man who loves international students. He is a former international student himself, now working in Austin. He has added some stability to a church with a history of “one and dones”. In addition, God has brought 2 female Chinese undergraduate

students who are both active in ministering to their friends. One of these is a real gatherer.”

“We are seeing more sororities reached, and

greater unity of Christians across houses.”

33

Victories

“This year, God has helped us establish a ministry in

Jester dorm. We have several freshmen who are committed to reaching out to their peers, and growing in their walks with Jesus.”

“Teaching them that Christ is the center of

school and work, creating a place where

students can belong and feel at home, and the power of prayer.”

“God is continuing to set people free from the

idolatry of success and performance into a life of

enjoying God and co-laboring WITH Him

instead of just for Him.”

“God has allowed spiritual multiplication to happen within our group in a way

beyond our expectation! God is showing our students what divine intimacy

means in a deep and personal way.”

"Raising up younger men to lead the

ministry for future.”

“We see students growing in knowing God’s

word on a daily basis, increasing personal

evangelism to friends, and contact evangelism.”

“We see realigning hearts and minds to God's and One

Way's vision.”

“God has really been taking our ministry from a discipleship-only ministry to a

missional community. Students have been making a more intentional effort to be a

light to business students!”

“A student came to faith and is sharing the

gospel with her friends.”

“We see progress in missional communities developing in soccer and

softball teams.”

“We see students building compassion for homeless citizens of Austin near UT,

students wanting to change factors that influence homelessness in Austin.”

34

Victories

“Students have been embracing a more confident evangelistic mindset among

their neighbors and classmates, which has led for more opportunities for the gospel

to be shared.”

“We see building community,

strengthening their faith, growing love for their

neighbors.”

“Outreach is something everyone is tasked to do; can be trained and equipped in outreach; getting some really excited

about outreach.”

“Relationships are deepening within the ministry, and several students are reading the Bible

with non-believing friends.”

“Internationals are very open to the Bible.”

“We are helping them fall in love with God's word and experience

the power of it as they live by them.”

“We planted two new ministries with theatre and women's rugby team, which is very exciting! Praying for my leaders to influence in

these two areas!”

“Students feeling empowered to be counter cultural, which at UT

means living their faith in a profoundly secular city.”

“We're serving more and more students

each year. It's exciting to see God enlarging

our territory.”

“Our freshmen ministry took a significant step forward in the spring. Excited to see where that takes us. We have several students considering

faith. Our in depth discipleship of students is expanding and going deeper.”

35

Victories

“We see a growing family, increasing

faith and understanding of

Jesus Christ.”

“God has been teaching each of our members about his heart for justice and his desire for all to be saved. We get to rejoice in International Justice Mission’s rescues every couple of weeks, we get to

pray for them as they send out requests for various projects going on around the world, and we have raised money for their work with different events throughout the year. Most importantly, God has

allowed us to start conversations about human trafficking in our community so that many will come to know about it and will make efforts to stop it from happening more in the future.”

“Students are growing in their faith and gaining a heart for their friends who don't

yet know Jesus. Many international students are hearing about Jesus for the first time.”

“We see forgiveness among families, life to the full, reconciliation,

and thankfulness.”

“God has been creating a home for girls to find missional community and life change.

Among the girls in Phi Lamb, there has been a lot of sharing testimonies and

learning about God's grace.”

“God has blessed us with a great group of men. We have a

good outreach among the Greek community.”

“Reaching students seeking

paths out of difficulties and crisis.”

“Continue to teach our students to give their life away daily. Sometimes that means serving through a cup of coffee (where coffee isn't just coffee), sometimes that means serving through acts of kindness or service, sometimes that means taking them

to church or a meeting.”

36

Ministry Challenges

Challenges

“Navigating the growth of

ministry.”

“Time constraints for athletes and a sense of entitlement as well. Many also, including coaches,

feel like they can’t share their faith on campus because it would violate some rules. A lack of

boldness for their faith is a big challenge these athletes continue to face.”

“We are needing a full-time staff to work with

the college students. The love of the world and the

desire of the flesh are always a temptation.”

“Students of all sorts have been constantly caught up in the party mentality. Many seem to be going

through a season of deciding whether this is what they want.”

“Continued pressure to find partnerships and

funding for the ministry.”

“Students are over committed, stress and anxiety from

school, students have a hard time fulfilling

commitments.”

“Weariness and fatigue in ministry.”

“The busyness of students & lack of

commitment to anything besides school is tough!”

“Learn to fail well, unhealthy

expectations of community.”

“Merging Greeks and non-Greeks

has presented

unique challenges.”

“Learning to share faith, re-plant is

difficult, finding the right people

to grow.”

“One of the struggles we faced was in the area of leadership

development. It was difficult raising up new leaders to replace the

leaders moving on.”

38

Challenges

“To reach undergrad

internationals, we reach mostly visiting scholars

& their spouses.”

“One obstacle to cultivating community is the distance leaders live from UT, due to financial barriers. One of our elders would like to move closer, but the housing costs are too high at this point. Another struggle is the one and done issue. We have had many students/scholars here for a year and then leave. It makes it difficult to build a church and to equip

people in all of the areas we want to equip people in.”

“The challenge for our ministry will be

reestablishing a ministry in Jester each fall, as

the majority of students spend only one year in

the dorms.”

“The enemy is often trying to get us run over with all the “things” our ministry needs to do to succeed, thus taking our eyes off

of Christ and turning in on ourselves.”

“Overwhelming academic

commitments.”

“Time constraints

are a big problem.”

“Upperclassmen tend to burn out.

More devotion from members

for Christ.”

“Our ministry is dealing with the growth process and staying focused

on the vision of our organization without getting lost in numbers.”

“One place the enemy has been

attacking is believer's faith and

identity in Jesus through strongholds

from the past.”

“Pop up meetings

that result in cancelled ministry

appointments with me.”

“Challenges in relationships between students in the group

and dating relationships. Students not prioritizing

spiritual community.”

39

Challenges

“There is idolatry of self

and conflict within the group with people not wanting to talk to each other.”

“The #1 challenge is working with students who are so driven academically and professionally that they don't seek first the King and His Kingdom. Jesus is often a distraction to their plan for their life or a

means by which they can build their own kingdom, resume, network, portfolio, etc. This idol of success and performance often worsened by

parent's expectations has led to all kinds of depression, anxiety, and self-worth issues. Students often have trouble just relaxing and having

fun due to this pressure of achieving greatness.”

“Lots of moral purity issues – classic ones of

underage drinking, ubiquitous pornography

involvement.”

“Our ministry struggles with students' commitment issues. Students will commit to

things, be verbally excited, but then back out. This behavior makes it difficult to have successful turnouts for social, service, and

discipleship type events.”

“Mental health issues,

anxiety, depression.”

“Formation of

perceived cliques.”

“Breaking away from negative

aspects of a set culture.”

“The confusion on gender, identity, and sexuality are presenting some real challenges – even when people are knowingly living in sin there seems to be less

conviction because sexual immorality has not only been normalized but encouraged and even elevated as heroic in some circumstances. Christian

students seem more accepting of sin than ever.”

“Students’ priorities often aligned more towards temporal things of grades,

internship, job over eternal things.”

“Common, continual theme of

anxiety and depression

amongst students.”

40

Challenges

“Busy, UT parents push to remove all

homeless people within

some distance of

UT campus.”

“Busyness and anxiety, personal

needs and distractions keeping

students from focusing on advancing the gospel and making

disciples.”

“Biggest struggle is financial provision as 100% support based

and don't ask students to pay for

programs or events.”

“We do not have great outreach outside of the Greek

community. We are always challenged to be a fraternity while simultaneously adhering

to Christian principles.”

“Too busy to pray, go to

church, be part of small group.”

“Facing lack of male leadership being

ready to lead and embracing their

leadership identity.”

“Attendance is always a

big challenge.”

“We are still trying to figure out how to really be connected into the Black community. We want

them to feel welcomed but we long for them to be in relationship with us not just check us out once

awhile but make our chapter their place to be spiritually fed and challenged.”

“Very traditional and time consuming

service that requires a deep understanding of

the reasons behind the traditions.”

“Over-committed and busy students, Self-dependence

rather than dependence upon Christ.”

“Growth in recruiting

freshmen.”

“Challenges with sexual purity

and understanding.”

“Our challenge is getting the word

out to students

on campus.”

41

2222 Rio Grande Street, Suite B-130, Austin, TX 78705 512 331 5991

http://austin.campusrenewal.org info@campusrenewal.org

@CampusRenewalUT