CCO Campus Ministry

Dave McGeary shakes things up at Penn State New Kensington

“I don’t have an office. This is my office,” says Dave as he points to the black, canvas mountain sitting on the chair next to him. It’s his shoulder bag brimming with books, numerous papers, his laptop and a cell phone filled with the numbers of countless students he’s encountered the past five years he’s been working on Penn State New Kensington’s campus.

After 24 years in the corporate world, Dave McGeary left his job working for Giant Eagle, where he assisted in the introduction of various technologies such as their Self-Checkout stations, because he felt like God was calling him to something more radical.

“I really enjoyed my job at Giant Eagle,” says Dave, “I just felt like there was something more than this.”

After some prodding from Dave’s pastor and CCO alumnus, Todd Robel, Dave began to pursue a new career path, one that was leading him to join the CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach) as a campus staff worker. The only complication was that Dave was married with five children. He couldn’t just uproot his family from their home in New Kensington, P.A.

“In the Lord’s sovereignty, of course,” says Dave unsurprised, “Penn State New Kensington was looking for someone to fill their campus ministry void.”

Dave stepped into the position at Penn State New Ken and has since established a weekly student gathering called the GIG (Group Investigating God) Club where students participate in sundry topical discussions.

Ultimately, “we will always seek to understand what God’s thoughts are on every topic we discuss, using the Bible as our reference,” explains Dave, “Students are hearing and being challenged by some fresh Biblical viewpoints.”

In conjunction with the basketball coach, Dave is pioneering a weekly discussion with student athletes. Currently, the group is exploring John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success.”

Getting involved in students’ lives at Penn State New Ken is comparatively challenging. It isn’t an average college campus. It is comprised solely of commuter students, many of whom travel 30-40 minutes to attend classes every day. Once classes have ended for the day, students leave.

“I have such a small window. Many students are only here for two years. That means that every two years a new group of students comes in,” says Dave, “Each group is completely different than the one before it. The last couple of years, the [student] lounge was the place to be. Most of my time was spent there. This year, the lounge isn’t cool anymore.

“Every year I need to feel out where the students are. It’s always changing. I’ve been spending a lot more time in the gym this year. This group of students likes playing ping-pong and basketball.”

Dave’s nomadic tendencies on campus have aided him in not only reaching the students of Penn State New Ken, but also its faculty and staff. Although Dave isn’t listed on anyone’s organizational chart, he has been a stimulating presence on the campus.

Dave’s influence at Penn State New Ken could not be ignored. In 2007, he was named Advisor of the Year. Also, Dave was asked to present a “Spiritual Wellness” seminar as part of the school’s overall Wellness program taking place at the end of January.

Extending his arms considerably to the community, Dave has made himself fully available to a Muslim student from Indonesia. Dave is meeting his basic needs by simply driving him to the grocery store. Occasionally Dave drives him to mosque. And on the journey there, the student inquires about the differences between Christianity and Islam. Dave is able to share his faith with him because he has proven that he cares about him.

As many barriers as college students tend to put up, Dave has somehow found the patience to navigate their world; and through his genuine love, inquisitiveness, and consistency in their lives, they have welcomed him in. As a result, Penn State New Kensington’s students are being revolutionized by the love of Christ.

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