Our Distinctives
CONNECTION TO THE LOCAL CHURCH
Campus Outreach believes in a relationship with the church. Unlike most campus ministries, Campus Outreach is not a para-church organization. Though we are not connected to one particular denomination, each regional ministry is under the authority and leadership of a regional church body, which provides a crucial source of accountability, leadership and resources. Staff members and students involved with Campus Outreach in other cities and towns become involved in local churches. Campus Outreach Minneapolis is under the authority and a ministry of The North Church in Mounds View, Minnesota. To learn more about COM's church visit The North Church's website.
COMMITMENT TO EVANGELISM
Campus Outreach has a strong commitment to sharing the Gospel with unbelieving students on each campus. We believe that this is commanded and modeled all throughout scripture. We look at texts like Romans 10:13-15 and 2 Timothy 4:2 as scriptural basis for sharing our faith with non-christian students on the campus.
COMMITMENT TO DISCIPLESHIP
We believe the best spiritual training takes place in the context of relationships. Rather than relying on a program or Bible-study curriculum, we emphasize the importance of life-on-life relationships - one individual sharing his life with another. We are not necessarily only a fellowship group, though fellowship is an important part of our values. We focus primarily on Discipling new and young believers and training them to do the same with their fellow college students. We have a high value for ministry training.
GROWTH STRATEGY
Campus Outreach has found that the most effective way to grow big is by staying small. Campus Outreach is actually made up of 20 independent "franchises" throughout the world. Once a franchise grows large enough, it launches new staff members to a new campus in another location. From there, Campus Outreach seeks out a regional church to "adopt" Campus Outreach as its college ministry. Once a church agrees and after a period of testing and transition, the new host church assumes all authority and oversight for that franchise. So in essence Campus Outreach is a collection of the 20 college ministries of individual churches which share a common vision and strategy but with no central headquarters or central authority.
REFORMED THEOLOGY
We believe that the Bible points us to a Sovereign God who is in control of all things in heaven and on earth. We, as humans, are created in His image, but are helpless to please Him or turn to Him. Apart from Christ, we are all dead spiritually and can do nothing to earn our righteousness or become justified in His sight. But God, being rich in mercy, made us alive through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He chose his elect before the foundation of the world, and in love, He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ. After God changes our heart, there is nothing we can do to lose our salvation because it is a gift of God's grace and He is always faithful to complete the work he begins. (Psalm 113, Romans 3:11, Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 1:4-7, Ezekiel 36:26, Philippians 1:6)
Our Vision
"Glorifying God by building laborers on the college campus for the lost world"
GLORIFYING GOD
The ultimate purpose of all creation is to bring attention to God and to glorify Him. Campus Outreach exists so that He may receive continual praise, honor and glory from us as we find our joy in Him.
BY BUILDING LABORERS
Building laborers takes many resources, but the returns on this investment are immeasurable. Our prayer is that students will graduate who are not only equipped to build their careers, but also the Kingdom of God.
ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS
The college campus is a strategic mission field. College students are at the crossroads of life making time-time decisions and moving out to influence the world. This is an ideal time to challenge them to live according to God's word.
FOR THE LOST WORLD
The purpose of Campus Outreach Minneapolis is to reach the world for Christ by mobilizing laborers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. Our vision is that trained graduates would provide leadership in every sphere of influence (the church, medicine, community, business, education, missions, etc.) at home and around the world.