Student Discipleship and Engagement

Two women sit on a gray couch in a warmly decorated room, talking. A wooden coffee table with magazines, a notebook, and a mug sits in front of them. Framed photos and patterned chairs are in the background.

A tour group stands near a dog statue with a red cloth around its neck. The guide, wearing sunglasses and a white shirt, speaks to the group. Trees and parked cars are visible in the background.

Student Discipleship and Engagement

The aim of the Office of Student Discipleship and Engagement is to meet students where they are by providing a grace-infused student experience that fosters Christ-centered formation.

Discipleship & Campus Ministry

Life Groups are student-led discipleship groups for new students. Life Groups provide an opportunity for students to find Biblical community and supports students as they transition to life as a �鶹��Ƶ student. As students get accustomed to new classes and a new community, Life Groups serve as a source of belonging and mentorship.

Life Groups typically consist of 8-10 new students who are led by an upperclassman male and female. Life Group Leaders will invest in the lives of new students by facilitating Biblical discussions, creating fellowship opportunities, and building a welcoming community. Life Groups will walk through a book of the Bible together and spend time in fellowship each week. Life Groups may go to the movies, play pickleball, go on hikes, play board games, or do whatever the group wants to do!

How Do I Join a Life Group?

Get to know the leaders on Instagram .
Meet the Life Group Leaders during the Life Group Fair at Welcome Week.
Select your top 5 leader pairs that you connected with at the Life Group Fair.
Your two Life Group Leaders will contact you on Monday of Welcome Week!

Questions about Life Groups?

Contact Hayden Phillips (hphillips@uu.edu), the Assistant Director for Campus Ministry and Men’s Discipleship.

Bridges is an opportunity for students to build community through conversation. The purpose of Bridges is simple: Bridges serves as the facilitator for new authentic connections that are centered around impactful conversation. Bridges for men and women is a special time for students to grow together in community while each individual pursues growth in leadership and understanding. Bridges, as the name suggests, is a time for students to build relationships with individuals they might not typically interact with. Bridges opens the door for authentic relationships to be formed around Christ-centered conversations.

Each time Bridges meets, a faculty member, staff member, or Biblical community leader will facilitate a conversation that prioritizes Biblical formation and leadership development. Students will have the opportunity to grow individually and with one another as they learn from campus leaders. Students who participate in Bridges are encouraged to invest in new people outside of their time in Bridges. Whether it’s grabbing lunch together, going on a walk, or getting coffee, students are encouraged to continue the conversation that begins in Bridges.

When does Bridges meet?

Both Bridges for Men and Bridges for Women will meet by invitation only. They will meet during both the fall and spring semesters.

Bridges for Women will meet 5–7pm on Mondays.
Bridges for Men will meet 4–5:30pm on Thursdays.

How do I get involved?

Staff from the Office for Student Discipleship and Engagement will contact students during the early months of the fall and spring semesters to sign up!

Men contact Hayden Phillips at hphillips@uu.edu
Women contact Fran Thomas at fthomas@uu.edu

Delight

Delight Ministries invites college women into Christ-centered community that fosters vulnerability and transforms stories. We aim to provide a space for women to vulnerably share how Christ has been at work in their lives. We believe that vulnerability leads to breakthrough, and breakthrough leads to transformation. We believe that one moment with Jesus can change everything. Our mission is to give college women numerous opportunities to meet with Jesus and have their lives transformed!

Delight will meet on Thursday nights in the Bowld. Follow us on IG at delight_union. The �鶹��Ƶ staff advisor is Emily Key. Her email is ekey@uu.edu if you have any questions.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a community working to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. We desire to see every coach and athlete enter into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his church. We seek to make disciples through our strategy of engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same.

If you are an athlete on campus, we would love for you to join us for Huddle. Huddles will meet on Sunday nights beginning in September and last throughout the entire year. If you are an athlete and want more information please contact our staff advisor, Fran Thomas at fthomas@uu.edu or our campus FCA president, Sydney Whittaker at Sydney.whittaker@my.uu.edu

The Journey Program at �鶹��Ƶ aims to provide a grace-infused discipleship program for students by fostering a redemptive community through relational discipleship and mentoring. The ultimate goal of the Journey Program is to fulfill �鶹��Ƶ University’s mission of developing Christ-centered students who will positively impact their communities and beyond.

The Journey Program includes two key areas: Journey Mentors and Journey Groups.

What are Journey Mentors?

Journey mentors offer a visible presence across campus, focusing on building relationships with students through casual conversations and more in-depth encounters. They are select faculty, staff, and community members committed to providing care for students who seek to grow in their walk with Christ, have shared life experiences, or have a specific circumstance that causes them to need care.

Types of Mentors:

Redemptive — Walking with students who have specific needs during a specific time.
- Students with judicial/discipline issues
- Students with life and/or family issues
- Students with unique needs and struggles
Pro-Active — Walking with students who share common areas of interest.
- Students with similar involvement/experience. (Greek Life, Majors, Athletics, churches)
- Students with similar callings (Faith in the Marketplace and Ministry calling)
- Students with similar backgrounds (MK’s/Int. Students, First-Gen, Family Life)

What are Journey Groups?

Journey groups are student-led discipleship groups that meet to live out the Christian life together. The goal for each group is to foster what matters most in life: entering into life with God and others by engaging Scripture, prayer, accountability, support, spiritual growth, encouragement, and friendship. Our hope with these groups is that students throughout �鶹��Ƶ’s campus will realize the incredible opportunity to grow in our relationship with Christ by reading the Word together.

Mobilization

We seek to train and equip students to take the next steps toward a life that connects with God's global purpose. There are opportunities to connect with God's Word, world, and work through Global Focus events, GO Trips, and leadership development.

GO Trips are designed to help students take the next steps toward a life that connects fully with God’s global purpose by providing team-based opportunities to join ministry partners domestically and internationally in making Christ known. GO Trips, offered during spring break and May provide opportunities to serve in ministry contexts such as church planting, campus outreach, orphan care, and community development.

Learn More About GO Trips | Give to GO Trips

Global focus events are designed to help students take the next steps toward a life that connects fully with God’s global purpose. There are avenues to explore ministry opportunities and needs, learn about GO Trips, connect with cross-cultural workers, and participate in special events, both on and off campus.

The Missions Course

is a six-week study that reveals God’s heart for the nations and invites believers to join him in his plan for redemption. Our goal is for you to know God’s mission and discover your role in it. �鶹��Ƶ students, faculty, and staff can register here at a discounted rate.

Mobilization Teams exist to train and equip students who will mobilize others to take the next steps toward a life that connects with God’s global purpose.

Mobilization Teams are made up of Global Leadership Team (GLT) and Mob Squad.

GLT serves for the entirety of the academic year. (4-6 hours/week)
Mob Squad serves alongside GLT through the fall semester. (2-3 hours/week)

Global Leadership Team (GLT)

As a part of Mobilization Teams, GLT is a leadership and personal development program with a global perspective. GLT includes connecting ourselves and others with God’s Word, world, and work through:

Personal, spiritual, and leadership development through team meetings, events, small groups, and one-on-one meetings.
Exploring mobilization, God’s heart for the nations, and the roles of goers and senders while learning about and praying for different cultures, places, and peoples.
Behind the scenes view of ministry, mobilization, and developing and sending teams.
Leading a group through the preparation, promotion, and execution of global focus and mobilization events.
Participation in a GO Trip during the upcoming spring semester.

Mob Squad

As a part of Mobilization Teams, Mob Squad seeks to grow in connecting others with God’s global purpose through awareness of lostness, prayer, and mobilization. This takes place in the context of the large group and small groups led by GLT and includes:

exploring mobilization, God’s heart for the nations, and the roles of goers and senders.
learning about and praying for different cultures, places, and peoples.
planning events to inform and engage the �鶹��Ƶ community.