Campus Outreach SERVE exists to empower and expand Campus Outreach ministries under the authority of local churches. We like to say we, “Send, Expand, and Serve”! We do what we do to see laborers built on the campus with hearts for the lost world.
Over the past five years, our staff have prayed for God to rebuild the leadership pipelines disrupted by COVID-19. As this year ends, we rejoice in how our gracious God has answered those prayers
Eighty-six students from 43 campuses have sent in applications for overseas service, and the year isn’t over. Mobilization Specialist, Mary Kelly Letro, shared, “These are numbers we haven’t seen since before the pandemic—and honestly, we weren’t sure we’d ever see again. God is clearly moving in the hearts of His people to care about what He cares about: the lost.” This year, 16 men and women committed to moving across the ocean to assist our partner churches. Twenty-seven others have undergone excellent training to prepare them for deployment. Ansley Sickeler was one of 23 who attended the Pre-Deploy Training in Birmingham, AL, just last week.
Ansley became a Christian through the Campus Outreach (CO) ministry at Kennesaw State (Kennesaw, Georgia). The students involved with the ministry were the “most compelling” people she met—not because they were perfect, but because they were inclusive and fun. She went with them to a New Year’s conference, and the gospel finally made sense. Ansley went on to take advantage of every training opportunity CO offered. With the additional experience of studying abroad in London during her senior year, Ansley graduated with three desires: to work in the music industry, be involved with ministry, and one day live in London.
For nine years, Ansley had a successful career with dream jobs in the music business. During that time, she was involved with the high school ministry at her church; however, the constant travel required by her job limited her involvement in the students’ lives. She felt the stirrings of a desire for more involvement in ministry. When a friend joked, “What if we just quit our jobs and moved abroad for ministry?” Ansley decided to look at the Campus Outreach locations. On the website, she saw a location that wasn’t there when she was in college: London. After ten years, two dreams converged, and she applied to serve in the field with CO London.
After spending time with Ansley, it doesn’t take long to realize that she is a learner. For years, she has seized opportunities to learn about herself and develop leadership skills. Last week, she went to Birmingham, Alabama, with her support raised and a “go date” on the calendar. She arrived ready to learn from what the SERVE staff had to offer in preparation for the next phase of her life: three years working with Campus Outreach staff in London, England. She had this to share about her training experience:
“The Campus Outreach SERVE team equipped us in many ways by grounding us in our identity in Christ, preparing us to navigate cultural differences, strengthening our team dynamics, reminding us to trust the Lord as we shared the good news of Jesus, and so much more. This training got me so excited to truly live out the mission of Campus Outreach to glorify God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world.”
The others attending agreed with her review and joined with those who had been sent before them, saying they felt better prepared to enter the mission field. And so, as 2025 draws to a close, we have much in which to rejoice! God is rebuilding pipelines, and laborers have entered the harvest fields. Regions are expanding; we launched a new team at the University of Central Florida! Over 50 staff members completed vital missionary training. God has answered our prayers and allowed us to send, expand, and serve!
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