CCO’s Ministry Connects College Students to Local Churches to Help Show Them the Light of Christ
August 16, 2021
PITTSBURGH— Generation Z (those born between 1996 and 2012) has lived through some of the most trying times in recent history—Sept. 11, 2001, the Great Recession in 2008, and scores of mass shootings in schools across the country. As a result of all this uncertainty, Gen Z has become more cautious and reserved, particularly when it comes to religion. According to a recent study featured in the Christian Post, only 9% of Generation Z claims to be “Bible centered.” For the body of Christ, this is a tragic statistic.
For the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), however, these startling numbers reveal an opportunity to reach this generation and show them the truth of Christ. CCO believes that every student needs to hear the Gospel, to be connected to a local church, and to gain a vision for serving Jesus Christ in the world—that while there is struggle and uncertainty on this Earth, Christ provides something much greater.
“From the very beginning, CCO staff has met with college students and encouraged them during one of the most difficult times in their lives. When they feel lost or out of place, we make it a point to let them know that they will always have a place in the family of Christ,” said Dan Dupee, former Chairman of the Board for CCO.
As the first wave of Generation Z students begin to head to college, CCO is prepared to meet them where they are—on campus. Strategically heading to where the lost students are is just the first step. Despite being born into a digital age where knowledge can be found at the tap of a screen, what Gen Z craves are meaningful relationships. Rather than utilize the previous methods of reaching the lost, CCO has discovered that connecting with individuals and learning about their lives provides the greatest avenue for spreading the Gospel.
This is what CCO is all about. CCO firmly believes that the college and university campus is the most influential mission field in the world. CCO becomes a helpful resource, ministering to college students at this important time in their lives, and providing a sense of belonging, direction, and purpose. CCO staff members excel at connecting with students during this difficult transitional period of their lives, showing them the light of Christ in a world consumed with darkness.
For 50 years,CCO staff have reached out to college students by entering into their world. But this is only part of the story. CCO partners with local churches, so that college students who connect to CCO ministries find themselves integrated into the life of their local church, where they worship in a multi-generational congregation, participate in Sunday school classes, and get to know church members over meals.
The college and university campus are the most strategic mission fields in the world, with only 2 percent of students being reached with the Gospel. CCO partners with local church congregations to help students feel a sense of belonging. A community is formed between the CCO staff and students, who are invited into the lives of local congregations. Through this community of fellowship, CCO is able to minister to students in a life-changing way.
To learn more about Coalition for Christian Outreach, and how individuals and churches may become involved with CCO on university and college campuses, visitwww.CCOJubilee.org.
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To interview a representative from Coalition for Christian Outreach, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.