COLLEGIATE MINISTRY
THE OPPORTUNITY
Each year, almost 450,000 students gather on the campuses of Illinois’ four-year universities and colleges to pursue their dreams for the future. It’s a crucial time as they are trying to figure out who they are, why they exist, and what they will spend their lives pursuing.
IBSA is intentionally working to reach reach these students, helping them find their true purpose in Jesus, by supporting strategic campus ministries who work through nearby local churches. These ministries understand that discipling and deploying college students is the key to reaching other college students, but they need partners to help.
How you can join the movement!
You can connect with and support a current or future college campus ministry, by praying, giving, or going!
illinois state university
Located in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois State has over 20,000 students on campus. Illinois Baptists support ministry to these students through Salt Church, which planted in 2022, with a unique strategy to reach college students and recent alumni, and integrate them into a thriving multi-generational church. Their on campus ministry, The Salt Company, holds regular gatherings on campus each Wednesday night, as well as other outreach and discipleship opportunities.
PRAY
We need prayer partners. Here are a few ways you can pray for our ministry to ISU students.
Reaching the Collegiate students at Illinois State University
Raising up leaders to send out to other campuses
Foreign missions and students going to spread the gospel
To identify a permanent location
To send out our first planter to reach another campus by 2028
Sign up to receive updates on our ministry.
GIVE
Your financial gift can change a student’s life. College students are filled with energy and potential, but often are limited financially. Individual gifts help provide the resources needed to reach new students and disciple those who are hungry to grow in their faith. See opportunities to give to support ISU campus ministry.
GO
Are you interested in serving alongside campus ministry leaders?
Serve a meal to Salt Company students
Help serve on mission trip to campus
Help to run a sports camp in the summer.
Sign up to receive more information on opportunities to come serve with campus ministry.
Mckendree University
McKendree University is located on the eastern edge of the St. Louis Metro East area, in the small town of Lebanon. The university has about 2,500 students, with most living on campus. Illinois Baptists support college ministry through Rooted Community Church, which began in 2022. They engage students through welcome week events and meals over Christmas break, as well as regular discipleship meetings and retreats.
PRAY
We need prayer partners. Here are a few ways you can pray for our ministry to McKendree students.
Sports team outreaches over the winter break
Reaching the students of McKendree
Raising up leaders to send out
Foreign exchange students that come to christ and then go back to their countries
Sign up to receive updates on our ministry.
GIVE
Your financial gift can change a student’s life. College students are filled with energy and potential, but often are limited financially. Individual gifts help provide the resources needed to reach new students and disciple those who are hungry to grow in their faith. See opportunities to give to support McKendree campus ministry.
GO
Are you interested in serving alongside campus ministry leaders?
Hospitality team for an event
Serve a meal
Make care packages for students during finals week.
Sign up to receive more information on opportunities to come serve with campus ministry.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Located in Carbondale, the SIU campus is sprawling and encompasses much of the natural beauty of its Shawnee hills setting. With almost 12,000 students studying, there is much opportunity to reach young people from across the state and the world. Ministry is done through the Baptist Campus Building, which hosts regular student gatherings and meals, and is soon to host a new church plant, Exodus Church, which will focus on reaching college students.
PRAY
We need prayer partners. Here are a few ways you can pray for our ministry to SIU-C students.
- Pray for God to continue to prepare hearts for expanded campus ministry.
There are thousands of students and internationals living in Carbondale who are far from God. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring a desire for the Truth of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Exodus Church launch team as it forms – for the right people in the right seats, for endurance in the beginning phases of planting.
Sign up to receive updates on our ministry.
GIVE
Your financial gift can change a student’s life. College students are filled with energy and potential, but often are limited financially. Individual gifts help provide the resources needed to reach new students and disciple those who are hungry to grow in their faith. See opportunities to give to support SIU-C campus ministry.
GO
Are you interested in serving alongside campus ministry leaders?
We are looking for churches to help serve on Sunday in fall 2026 as our “hospitality team” on weekends. We hope to launch with multiple services and will need help with parking, greeting. We could have teams prayer walk as part of the trip.
We need churches who will provide meals for our 4 information meetings we will have in January. We also need meals for our monthly “connect classes” that begin fall of 2026.
Sign up if you are interested in these opportunities. You will receive more information.
University of Illinois urbana/champaign
The largest university in the state, U of I sees about 60,000 students studying at its central Illinois campus, with people coming from across the state, from across the country, and across the world. Illinois Baptists support campus ministry here through New City Church, a 2019 church plant. By engaging students, helping them grow in Christ, and equipping them to reach other college students on campus, they are see many students coming to faith and growing as leaders.
PRAY
We need prayer partners. Here are a few ways you can pray for our ministry to University of Illinois students.
International student outreaches over the winter.
Leaders traveling to passion conference
Reaching the students of University of Illinois
Logan Barrus as he is raised up to church plant
Identifying a permanent location
Sign up to receive updates on our ministry.
GIVE
Your financial gift can change a student’s life. College students are filled with energy and potential, but often are limited financially. Individual gifts help provide the resources needed to reach new students and disciple those who are hungry to grow in their faith. See opportunities to give to support U of I campus ministry.
GO
Are you interested in serving alongside campus ministry leaders?
Serve a meal for an event
Hospitality team
Serving alongside the church in summer events
Sign up to receive more information on opportunities to come serve with campus ministry.
FUTURE CAMPUSES
There are dozens more 4-year college campuses, plus over 50 community colleges, across our state. These are mission fields filled with young people who need to hear the gospel. IBSA wants to expand strategic campus ministry in Illinois, with with eyes set next on places like Bradley University in Peoria, Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, and University of Illinois Chicago. You can help make that happen. Would you pray, give, or be ready to go to help start a new campus ministry within the next two years?
PRAY
We need prayer partners. Here are a few ways you can pray for expansion to a new campus in Illinois.
- Pray that God would provide direction to the right campus where God wants to do a new work.
- Pray that God would provide both the strategic church and the person prepared to lead a new ministry to college students.
- Pray that God would prepare the hearts of students to desire the hope found only in Jesus.
Sign up to receive updates on future campus ministry expansion.
GIVE
Your financial gift can change a student’s life. College students are filled with energy and potential, but often are limited financially. Individual gifts help provide the resources needed to reach new students and disciple those who are hungry to grow in their faith. See opportunities to give to support U of I campus ministry.
GO
Would you be willing to go serve to help lay the groundwork for ministry to a new college campus in Illinois? Sign up to receive more information as opportunities become available.