ABOUT SERVE
Over the past number of years, various PAOC ministries on universities and colleges have arisen across Canada. As they began to come together to share their vision and expertise, a larger Vision for the campuses of our nation began to come into focus. SERVE Campus Network emerged in order to give support and direction to this dynamic new movement. As a diverse network, we share a common commitment to reaching our campuses with biblical and intellectual integrity combined with a deep dependency upon the Holy Spirit.
C5 APPROACH
We found that we have outstanding examples of various modes of campus ministry. As a result, we are able to be flexible and creative in our approach to each individual university or college. We have developed what we now describe as the C5 Approach
to campus ministry. Briefly, this includes:
We do not need to be limited to any one ministry model and in fact many of our campus ministries embody more than one of these approaches. Further, while most of our campus ministries would not necessarily see themselves as being particularly “denominational”, we are able to leverage our strength as a large, national “missional family rooted in relationship” to provide dimensions of ministry that may prove difficult for other organizations. As we celebrate the work God is doing in and through other campus groups, we are aware that it is important for us to learn and play our part. The task of reaching and impacting the campuses of our nation is far greater than all of us put together could hope to accomplish.
So, we encourage you to get to know us and see the breadth of our vision. We hope that you will find information that is helpful to you and that you will feel free to contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for.
CHAPLAINCY
This is another great form of campus ministry in the C5 Approach. Chaplains function as a spiritual resource to the campus, and can run their own programs as well as assist the administration as much as the campus allows. This enables the individual to function as the pastor (of sorts) to the campus.
Some great examples of this would be John Engels, and Kelly Johnson.
CLUB
Clubs exist within the framework of the student union on a campus, which means they are recognized in an official capacity by the administration. This gives open doors and great opportunities.
A few examples of Clubs are Segue in Winnipeg and The Link at Red River College.
CAMPUS CHURCH
Campus churches can be a wonderful expression of the Kingdom on campus. They enable students to have a faith community on their own territory, and this also enables the church to have increased access and knowledge of the campus and its inner dynamics.
Some examples of this are LIFT Church at McMaster University and The Embassy at Humber.
CHURCH-BASED
Church based ministries are planted when a church near a campus decides to invest in its students and begin a community of believers on the campus itself. In essence, they reach in and become an incarnational community to bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
Some examples of this are the ministries run by Mark Goring and John Knight at George Brown and York University respectively.
CREATIVE
This type of ministry approach is particularly interesting because it involves the smashing together of ministry and commerce/business. This could look like a cafe being run by an entrepreneur/pastor who desires to reach the campus, and so they use the space to welcome students and be safe place for prayer, bible studies as well as studying and hang outs.
