Coalition for Christian Outreach Acknowledges Stability, Consistency, and Longevity of Staff and Volunteers Who Reach Students in Their College Years
July 26, 2021
PITTSBURGH — For 50 years, the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO, ccojubilee.org) staff members and volunteers have reached out to college students by seeking them out on college campuses. These caring individuals have been vital in connecting with students, meeting them on campuses every day – at athletic practices, in cafeterias, student centers, coffee shops, residence halls, and sometimes even classrooms.
For CCO, volunteers are an invaluable resource in achieving CCO’s vision—to see a generation of college students transformed by the power of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, in partnership with the local church, reaching the world for the glory of God. To celebrate the milestones of some of these volunteers, CCO hosted a virtual Staff Celebration in July, and Tenure Awards were presented to 23 men and women who have been part of CCO’s student outreach for 5, 10, 20, and even 40 years.
Says Dan Dupee, former Chairman of the Board for CCO, “We are commemorating 50 years of ministry this year, and we couldn’t have made it this far without the excellent work of our staff and volunteers who have helped us get here.”
In 2020, despite the trials of life in a pandemic, CCO still had an eventful year, with 11,541 students impacted and more than 18,000 virtual calls made—a first in CCO history. The Gospel was shared over 1,200 times, and 14,156 Bible studies and 22,219 discipleship meetings took place.
Many students who are influenced by the CCO’s ministry during their college years graduate and become leaders within their communities, workplaces, and churches. They are committed to service and the larger mission of the Church in the world. Former students of CCO ministries are now doctors, teachers, lawyers, artists, business leaders, spouses and parents who are influencing thousands of people all over the world—all thanks to the efforts of CCO staff and volunteers.
“We thank our God who is faithful and brought us to this—our Jubilee year,” says Dupee. “There have been ups and downs along the way, but throughout these five decades, Jesus Christ has been the author and perfecter of countless college students’ lives. And for that, we are grateful.”
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.
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To interview Dan Dupee or for more information about the Coalition for Christian Outreach, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
