College Ministry (Panel)

Many churches struggle with how to best reach young adults between the ages of 18 and 22. Do we build another “youth group” experience for them during their college years? Do we try to push them into the life of the larger body of the local church? How do we ensure that college years foster faith in Jesus Christ that grows into maturity? We, as church leaders, need to build a biblical model of ministry to college-aged students that will prepare them for lives of gospel ministry and leadership in the church of Jesus Christ our Lord.

J. D. Greear (MDiv, PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. His latest book is Everyday Revolutionary: How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World. His previous books include 12 Truths and a Lie, Essential Christianity, and Just Ask. He serves as a Council member for The Gospel Coalition and served as the 63rd president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2018 through 2021. He hosts Summit Life, a 30-minute daily radio broadcast and weekly TV program, as well as the Ask the Pastor podcast.

Rupert Leary is the college pastor and Campus Outreach director at the Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina.

Jon Nielson serves as senior pastor of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Roselle, Illinois. He is married to Jeanne, and they have three children. He has authored five books, most recently Bible Reading with Your Kids.