When we first arrived, we began International Campus Ministry. This ministry has always been developing. The Lord has created our ministry to be more focused on the undergraduate international student, but our graduate student population has continued to grow. We welcome all international students and visiting scholars, but the majority of our group has consisted of the undergraduates. Our desire has been to be a "family" for these students.
Since we arrived over 8 years ago, we have been in partnership with the Purdue Collegiate Ministry (formerly called Baptist Collegiate Ministry). We sought to develop domestic students to learn how to engage with international students and to be welcoming to all. This has been a process but with blessings in return. We have tried different approaches with our two student organizations. Since 2017, our two groups operated as one in regards to our student leaders, staff, calendars, events, and facilities. Due to some planned and anticipated income challenges for the year 2020, we have had to come together in an even stronger "position" as one organization as a tax-exempt corporation.
This has led to a new merge and re-brand of our ministries into LAUNCH CAMPUS MINISTRY.
Going forward, we will have two organizations registered on campus: Launch Campus Ministry and Launch Campus Ministry, International. However, we will be known of both as "Launch". This is a process that we hope to have finalized by January 2020.
As Missionaries, our calling and commission is *two-fold:
-To LEAD international students at Purdue University to a relationship with Christ then ENCOURAGE them that they might be effective missionaries here or to their own home countries.
-To bring AWARENESS and EMPLOY the local church to come along side and help us accomplish this, and much more.
*- We even been able to add a 3rd portion to our calling and commission: To TRAIN and TEACH OTHER CHURCHES around the country how to reach international students at their local campuses.
To explain, we are striving to connect and minister to over 9000 international students at Purdue University (in 2021: source IIE= 11,000+) in friendship through a variety of different gatherings and events with domestic and international students, with one-on-one discipleship, small group studies, large group events/activities, "mercy" ministries, and family outreach. All the while, Dennis is meeting with the local churches on a regular basis to introduce them and then connect them to these students and their families. The task is daunting, but the eternal rewards will be great for everyone involved. The ultimate desire, for ourselves and those who come along side us (whether the local church or our ministry partners), is to see these students come to know Christ as their Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, and to tell others!
We continuously need Ministry Team Members (individuals, groups, and churches from anywhere in the United States) help us in a variety of ways:
1) Financially (Monthly or One-time gifts) 2) In Prayer 3) Specific Needs Gifts (ask us) 4) Physically (if you live in the area and would like to volunteer within this ministry, or if your church would like to consider a mission trip to here, in either situation, please contact us)
Is the Lord leading you to join this team with us? If you feel led to join us as partners in this ministry, please visit the next page (GET INVOLVED) for the details of how!