CCO Campus Ministry

Creating a generation of leaders at Edinboro University

This article first appeared in the fall 2009 issue of On Campus magazine.

The best campus ministry builds leaders who develop more leaders. Just look at Sara Kann. CCO staff invested in Sara as a student at Penn State University, and now she develops student leaders at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

During the school year, Sara lives with seven women in the Potter’s House, an off-campus residence used for student leadership development. Sara’s passion for getting involved on and off Edinboro’s campus is contagious. As each woman transitions out of the house, she starts her own Bible studies and finds other ways to serve students.

“Living in the Potter’s House, I was able to see someone else faithfully living out a life after God complete with challenges and triumphs,” comments Alison Slippey. “When God put on my heart to lead a prayer team on my campus, Sara helped me gather all the resources I needed and supported me with encouragement and prayer. I never viewed myself as a leader. Sara helped open my eyes to see where I was already leading and encouraged me to grow in my leadership.”

Knowing that summer experiences are formative in the growth of college students, Sara traveled to Wyoming with sophomore Allie Elliot for the CCO’s 40-day Leadership and Discipleship in the Wilderness program this past summer. With Sara’s encouragement, another student spent her summer working in an orphanage in Haiti, another went to the CCO’s Ocean City Beach Project, while yet another went to work for a mission in Sequoia National Park.

Many of the house residents attend The Tuesday Night Thing, a weekly ministry gathering of 60-80 students that Sara co-advises. A dozen students hold leadership positions and are a part of a small group facilitated by Sara that equips them to lead their own small groups among their peers.

“Many students are drawn to the sense of welcome and community that our group offers,” says Sara. “We show them concern that they often don’t get from their professors. We invite them in, open up to them and get to know about their lives.”

Sara’s persistence and intentionality in seeking out students, the same way she was sought as a student, is creating a generation of student leaders, one by one.

How it works
The CCO partners with the Edinboro Ministry Council to bring Sara Kann to Edinboro University. Sara lives and works with female students in the Potter’s House, which is owned by the Edinboro Ministry Council.

What our partner says
We partner with the CCO because the result is a clear, consistent, day-to-day presence of the love of God in the lives of students. The CCO is the best organization to deliver that presence, through its well-qualified, intentionally trained, and consistently supported staff. We are proud to be part of the effort. —Tim Rankin, Principal of McDowell Senior High School, Erie, PA and president of the Edinboro Ministry Council

What students say
“I have learned through Sara’s example what it looks like to be a true follower of Christ. She has shown me what it looks like to be a leader as well. I really appreciate all she does, especially with the Potter’s House. She has a big heart and her door is always open to others.” —Allie Elliot, Edinboro University, Class of 2013

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