CCO Campus Ministry

Influencing the Influencers @ Duquesne University

This article first appeared in the spring 2010 issue of On Campus magazine.

Jay Spinks, a wide receiver on Duquesne University’s football team, had been attending a Tuesday night Bible study led by CCO staff worker Herb Kolbe. This semester, with Herb’s guidance and encouragement, he took the initiative to start a Bible study on campus for his fellow athletes.

Bethany Walker is a sophomore elementary education major and a member of Duquesne’s track and cross country team. “I have expressed to Kathy that I want to show the girls on my team Christ-like love,” she says. “Not only does Kathy talk with me, but she prays with me about many things, including how to influence the people around me. This has had a strong effect on my role as a leader.”

Herb and his CCO colleague, Kathy Kinzer, invest in student leaders at Duquesne University, helping them to recognize their influence in the lives of their peers wherever they are—on the football field, in the classroom or hanging out in a local coffee shop. As advisers of Duquesne’s Crossroads Christian Fellowship group, they encourage students to grow in their faith and offer them opportunities to develop their leadership skills, through leading Bible studies, short-term mission trips, large-group fellowship meetings, or unique events that the students themselves dream up.

Bethany Ann Cerbus is a senior nursing major at Duquesne who decided to create an intellectual faith forum for students on campus. “Herb got me in touch with all of
his faculty contacts in order to help me get this going,” she says. Using Duquesne faculty members as panelists, Bethany spearheaded a four-week “Seeking the Truth” series. The event enabled Christian faculty to answer students’ questions about God.

“Through Herb’s guidance and support, I have been empowered to serve Christ, Duquesne, and Crossroads in ways I had only dreamed of,” says Bethany. “I also see growth in other students because of this ministry.”

Inspired by her experience at Jubilee, another student recruited others to help her sponsor a benefit concert that raised over $2,500 to provide clean water supplies for remote villages in Africa. Involving their peers in current issues provides opportunities for these student leaders to share Christ and invite others to Crossroads.

Just before Thanksgiving, students created personalized thank-you cards and homemade cookies for each of the 200 food service and facilities staff on campus. No other group on campus has taken the time to show their appreciation by serving Duquesne staff like this.

“This is my second year as President of Crossroads and I can honestly say that without Herb’s guidance and help, I would have failed miserably at working with our ministry team,” says Ryan Gill, president of Crossroads and a physical therapy major pursuing a doctoral degree from Duquesne. “I have learned so much through working with Herb. I feel confident running meetings now. Our conversations have really shaped how I view my surroundings and how I interact with people every day. I have gained experience through this ministry that will benefit me in every aspect of life, and I am so very appreciative.”

When they graduate, Crossroads alumni will be pursuing careers as musicians, nurses, pharmacists, teachers and accountants. Because they are learning how to lead in college, these students will be prepared to influence others wherever they go.

“Crossroads at Duquesne is a wonderful and blessed success. Led by talented CCO representatives and a strong self-sustaining leadership core, the group reaches out to serve the world in love. They are a joy to have with us on Duquesne’s campus.” —David L. Somers, Ph.D., P.T., Associate Professor and Anna Rangos Rizakus Endowed Chair for Health Sciences and Ethics, Department of Physical Therapy, Duquesne University

What students say
“Herb is always the ‘go-to’ guy when students need advice. He helps not by tellingÂ Â students what to do, but listens and asks questions. I find that Herb helps me to grow with his questions and concerns for my life.” —Janna Faulkner, sociology major, Duquesne University, Class of 2010

“Without Herb’s guidance and help, I would have failed miserably at working with our ministry team to accomplish everything that we do. I have gained knowledge and experience from working with Herb that will benefit me in every aspect of life.” —Ryan Gill, President of Crossroads, doctoral candidate in Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, Class of 2013

“Knowing that Kathy will be supporting me with spiritual guidance, as well as holding me accountable when needed, I feel a sense of confidence to lead and be able to invest and support others.” —Lauren Fouse, elementary education major, Duquesne University, Class of 2012

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