CCO Campus Ministry

How the CCO’s ministry works at Slippery Rock University

This article first appeared in the fall 2008 issue of On Campus magazine.

How it works
The CCO partners with two church congregations to bring Joshua Hayes and Julie Manfred to Slippery Rock University. Josh serves Harmony United Presbyterian Church as Church Resource Assistant and Youth Director, and he also serves as chaplain to the varsity football team. Julie serves Gateway Community Church as a campus worker, reaching out to students at Slippery Rock.

CCO staff provide leadership to FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) chapters, which are student-run groups serving athletes on local campuses.

What students say
“Being a woman and an athlete creates an atmosphere where it is like your own Babylon. You want to fit in with what everyone else on the team is doing. I felt as though I didn’t have a huge say on what and how the team acted… There is a stereotype that being a college athlete puts on you: all athletes do is party and play, they don’t worry about their grades.” —Caitlin Hubbard, Slippery Rock University Class of 2007, volleyball player and health & physical education teacher

“It is hard, and I am still far away from where I should be, but without Josh and FCA, I feel I would be going in the completely wrong direction. Being a 22-year-old male football player, I face challenges every day. Alcohol, drugs and violence are just some of the topics that come to mind.” —Cory Lacek, Slippery Rock University Class of 2008, football player and criminology and criminal justice major

“A challenge of college athletics for me is the diverse background of sexual preferences, religious beliefs, social activities, and personalities that comprise a team. As a Christian athlete, I often feel alienated from the rest of my teammates who live a very different lifestyle from me. It is challenging for me to find an appropriate space to share my beliefs and socialize with my teammates. Through my time working with Julie, I have grown in so many ways and come to understand how to trust and know Christ is in every aspect of my life.” —Katherine Sullivan, Slippery Rock University Class of 2009, rugby player and athletic training major

“If it wasn’t for Josh, I would not be in college and getting an education. Josh has drastically changed my life. He has helped me with every problem that has gone through my life. I owe my relationship to my girlfriend to him, my relationship to my family, my diploma, friends, confidence, athleticism…the list goes on. He is so much more than just a campus ministry leader. He is a great friend, person, and counselor.” —Jim D’Amico, Slippery Rock University Class of 2008, football player and health and physical education major

What the coach says
Most athletic programs put so much emphasis on academic support for student athletes, and physical support in terms of weight training, that sometimes you overlook the spiritual aspect. That’s what we had done for many years at Slippery Rock. Then Josh came along, and he has done a great job connecting with the players on a very positive level.

We have a 15- to 20-minute football team “huddle” prior to every game, which is a social time for the players. Josh always has a great message from a Scripture reading and attempts to relate it to the sports world and life in general. About 20 of the 80 players on the team are involved now, and some participate in the larger FCA group that Josh and Julie lead.

We also see Josh throughout the week—he’ll stop by practice and interact with the guys, and we’ll see him in the football office. The players are getting to know him as an individual, not just a guy who comes in to pray with them once a week. I’ve seen it make a difference with the guys.
—George Mihalik, Head Football Coach, Slippery Rock University

What our partner says
When we decided to plant Gateway Community Church in Slippery Rock, we determined early that our primary focus of outreach would be to the college community, the high school, and the rural poor of Butler County. We host worship services in the student union building of the university every Sunday, and our hope is to motivate college students to participate in our outreach to the larger community. Julie is at the forefront of that. Julie is a very natural extension of our vision and what we’re trying to do through this new congregation. It just made sense for us to partner with the CCO. Josh and Julie are the only two full-time campus ministry staff on a campus with 9,000 students. —Rev. Bob Stauffer, Gateway Community Church, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

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