CCO Campus Ministry

Jake Nelko

“I may not have explored my faith much or grown in Christ if not for the CCO’s ministry at Pitt,” says Jake Nelko. “I wouldn’t have done the internship last year or tried youth ministry after that.”

When Jake was a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, he started attending Bellefield Presbyterian Church, which is located right in the heart of the university’s campus. He eventually began attending Cornerstone fellowship meetings, but not immediately. “I was looking for a Christian ministry somewhat, but I did not feel very comfortable at Cornerstone when I first came to college because it was big and intimidating.”

But he did eventually connect at Cornerstone, to the point of leading Bible studies, playing drums for the worship team, and ultimately serving as a campus ministry intern after he graduated. He’s grateful for the mentoring of the CCO staff people there, both during his time as a student and as an intern, and for the opportunity to develop further as a Christian leader at the Ocean City Beach Project.

“Cornerstone provided the best friends that I’ve maintained through today,” Jake says. “Being involved in a campus ministry gave me something to invest my time in that made me feel accomplished and helped me grow in my faith.

“My faith has changed how I interact with people, use my money, use my time, and how I experience life in general. I try to be a better steward of my resources and I am more mindful of the environment. And I share my faith in the way I carry myself and interact with people.”

After his campus ministry internship, Jake worked as a youth minister for a church in the Pittsburgh suburbs. He is currently discerning where he will work next, and in what field, but he is grateful for the foundation that the ministry at Pitt laid for him.

“I try not to spend my money and time frivolously,” he says. “I know that there is a constant need to be fed from the Word thanks to my Bible study leadership training.”

Transformed Lives