Higher Education and Campus Ministry

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The Florida Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry
A Mission to the Collegiate Community

Why do we call ourselves a Mission? Because our campus ministries are placed on college campuses that are a different  culture, one set apart from the rest of the world around it. Colleges are mini cities with about 40,000 residents who have their own language, rules and values. Our Directors, just like an out of country missionary, must learn this culture in order to minister to this society in which the college student is immersed.
Also, just like an out-of-country missionary, our campus ministries must raise money in order to support themselves. The Conference supports only a portion of their budgets and everything else, from volunteer hours, building needs and ministerial funds come from generous donors who understand the importance of campus ministry to college students.

Our Vision and Mission
The Vision and Mission of the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry is to be the United Methodist Church at work on Florida’s college and university campuses, raising up a new generation of Christian leaders by:
• Calling students into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
• Training them to become servant leaders
• Sending them out to serve God through the local church
• Encouraging the development of Christian community
• Affirming and supporting the relationship between the Florida Annual Conference and Florida’s United Methodist related institutions of higher education:  Bethune-Cookman College and Florida Southern College.

How Important is Campus Ministry? Consider these statistics:
• The current generation of college students is the largest since the Baby Boom, but the lowest percentage to grow up in church
• Approximately 80% of college students have never had significant Church experience
• More significant life choices (vocation, lifestyle, relationships, spiritual) are made during college than any other stage of life.
• 90% of students who have grown up in the church may never return after graduation

A Crucial Time for our Campus Ministries and UM Related Schools
We are at a time in history where people are more sensitive to spirituality and this is very true when it comes to our college campuses. A study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA College shows a high degree of spiritual interest and involvement among college students. Many students say that they are “searching for meaning/purpose in life” or that they have discussions about the meaning of life with friends, and similar numbers have high expectations that college will help them develop emotionally and spiritually.

What a great opportunity for the United Methodist Church through our Campus Ministries and UM related colleges to have an effect on the lives of these students. Imagine the impact we could have as a church if we came together as a Conference to reach out to these students. We could not only began to fulfill the Great Commission on college campuses everywhere, but also help to bring the next generation of leaders into a relationship with the living God.

Please click on the links below to further explore on Campus Ministries and the colleges they serve.

UM Campus Ministries and Colleges
Scholarships CMR Contact Us