CCO Campus Ministry

The CCO’s ministry in Philadelphia

Part One of Three

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

Eight years ago, there was no CCO ministry in Philadelphia. Today there are 14 CCO staff people reaching students on 14 campuses.

There are over 300,000 students at 85 colleges and universities in the Metro Philly area. Until the CCO began partnering with churches there, most of these schools had little to no ministry happening on campus.

How it works
The following churches partner with the CCO to bring ministry to local campuses:

Church of the Saviour
Katie Zoet
Eastern University
Valley Forge Military College
Villanova University

liberti fishtown
Tara Atchison
Temple University

liberti roxborough
Amy Nichols
Philadelphia University

New Life Presbyterian Church, Dresher
Hesed & Jerry Fourroux
Temple University Ambler

New Life Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
SÃºler Acosta
LaSalle University

Temple University Discipleship House
Kurt Ro
Temple University

United Presbyterian Church of Manoa
Elliott Simko
Eastern University
Haverford College
Valley Forge Military College

Wayne Presbyterian Church
Lindsey Smyth
Eastern University
Villanova University
[Editor's note: Lindsey Smyth now serves as Area Director for the Metro Philadelphia.]

Samuel Chez, CCO Vice President for the Eastern Region, pioneered and oversees CCO Metro Philly ministry.

What students say
Lindsey Smyth made a special effort to personally get know me. She has played an active role in my spiritual growth. I have continued to go to Wayne Presbyterian Church regularly and it has been such a tremendous blessing during my college years. —Christine Schmidt, Eastern University Class of 2009

Kurt and Tara have been resources of guidance and support, and they have dared me to take further steps in my faith. —Ross Williamson, Temple University Class of 2009

What our partners say
Elliott Simko’s service here has spawned new ministries, enlivened traditional practices, and challenged us in leadership toward levels of excellence in media outreach and communication. I cannot overemphasize the strength and impact CCO’s presence has brought to our church. —Brown Caldwell, Pastor of Manoa Presbyterian Church

We love that the CCO is church-based. We love to see students get a vision of what Jesus calls the church to be and do, and then we love to see students jump in! —Steve Huber, Pastor of liberti fishtown

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