West Virginia University was named the number one party school for 2007 by The Princeton Review Annual Rankings. “The school has made the list seven times in the past 15 years, despite efforts to curb underage drinking and rowdy behavior,” writes Vicki Smith in an Associated Press report.
What the CCO is doing about it: College Church and Kegger at Kirks
“Discover your new home” is the motto and the invitation offered to WVU students by College Church. An outreach of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Morgantown, West Virginia and the CCO, staff member Andy Smith explains, “College Church seeks to be a home for folks and offer what the partying students are seeking: meaning, belonging, being cared about, and peace in the midst of a stressful time of life.”
College Church builds a home for students through weekly worship services, including dinner after each service on Sunday evenings, Bible studies, recreational and social events, and “Smitty Day in the Lair,” when Andy spends his afternoons in WVU’s student union, the Mountainlair, hanging out “to meet new students and to minister to current students in the ministry.”
Meanwhile, across campus, Nicki Carpenter has recently returned to reach out to WVU students in cooperation with Trinity Episcopal Church in Morgantown. Interested students are invited to participate in a weekly dinner and Bible study, as well as movie and game nights. A popular event during football season is the “Kegger at Kirks,” a non-alcoholic tailgate party hosted by the church’s rector, for students who want to cheer on the West Virginia Mountaineers away from the country’s number one partiers.
While Andy and Nicki partner with local churches to reach WVU students, CCO associate staff member Nate Harlan has returned to his alma mater and is in the process of starting up a ministry to students through the venue of outdoor adventure activities.
These three very different campus workers are making themselves available on campus, day after day, and they are reaching completely different groups of students.
Expanding our ministry in West Virginia
CCO Area Director Katie Tarara is excited about the ongoing ministry to students at West Virginia University. Of the more than 27,000 students at WVU, less than 10% of them are involved in ministry opportunities on campus. Given the great need, Katie is working hard to develop additional positions with local Morgantown churches to provide even more ministry opportunities for WVU students.
This fall, two new staff members are pioneering positions at the University of Charleston. Robby Peterson is partnering with First Presbyterian Church of Charleston and is working on starting a bike ministry among students. Melissa Toomey meets students very naturally as she serves up coffee to them at Capitol Roasters Café. We also hope to start ministries with students at Fairmount State University and West Virginia State University.