want to know more? Click an image below!
Fill out the form below for more info, and someone will reach out!
What is Campus ministry?
Campus Ministry, or CM for short, is a Grand Valley State University student organization right here on campus! We love Jesus and love people. We are here for you! CM hosts different events throughout the semester to create spaces to get to know people, as well as a weekly worship service.
where can you find us?
During the school year, our staff work at the Cook-DeWitt Center on campus and there are [almost] always students and snacks in our office! We're open Monday to Thursday 10-4 and Friday 10-2. You are always welcome to pop-in and stay for a while! (Note: we are out of office from May to July)
Follow us on Instagram for regular updates or send an email to cm@mail.gvsu.edu with any questions!
Follow us on Instagram for regular updates or send an email to cm@mail.gvsu.edu with any questions!
what does it look like to get connected?
You can get connected to CM all kinds of ways, and feel free to scroll on this page to learn about them! This is what it looked like for Sawyer, one of our current students:
When I was 17, I had planned out every aspect of my life. I was going to attend Kalamazoo College, run collegiate cross country, and become a veterinarian. Spoiler alert: none of those things happened. My perfectly curated life came crashing down when I was denied the scholarship for my dream school and before I knew it, I was heading to Grand Valley. I spent that summer feeling like I hadn’t worked hard enough to get what I wanted. I arrived at GV numb, with not much interest in making friends (an attitude that contributed to escalating roommate conflict). My dad would drill me about going to a youth group, but I had no interest in joining something that I was sure would be the equivalent of four people sitting in a dark basement.
One day, I was on a scavenger hunt with my orientation group. It was bright and sunny, yet I had never felt so lonely. As my group approached the clocktower, bubbles and music filled the air as someone passed me a flier. It listed events being put on by an organization called Campus Ministry. I felt this overwhelming sense of peace, as if God was reaching out and telling me not to stray away, and that I would need him soon. Two weeks later, I was kicked out of my apartment and my boyfriend dumped me over the phone. The next few weeks were rough. I spent most days trying to avoid returning to my empty dorm. One night, in an attempt to avoid going home, I walked into a Reunion service. Immediately the “dark basement” idea of church vanished. I have never felt so much joy radiating from a room at once. The next year was spent learning, growing, and leaning on God. I could not be more grateful for everything that brought me to where I am today, and that is why I worship.
One day, I was on a scavenger hunt with my orientation group. It was bright and sunny, yet I had never felt so lonely. As my group approached the clocktower, bubbles and music filled the air as someone passed me a flier. It listed events being put on by an organization called Campus Ministry. I felt this overwhelming sense of peace, as if God was reaching out and telling me not to stray away, and that I would need him soon. Two weeks later, I was kicked out of my apartment and my boyfriend dumped me over the phone. The next few weeks were rough. I spent most days trying to avoid returning to my empty dorm. One night, in an attempt to avoid going home, I walked into a Reunion service. Immediately the “dark basement” idea of church vanished. I have never felt so much joy radiating from a room at once. The next year was spent learning, growing, and leaning on God. I could not be more grateful for everything that brought me to where I am today, and that is why I worship.
So, What do we do?
You are not meant to do this life alone!!! We want to know you and for you to know others. There are many opportunities for you meet people and make connections with other college students who are at a variety of places in their faith journey.
Whether you've grown up attending church or are unsure about the whole Jesus thing, we would love for you to stop on by for a time of worship, teaching, and community. People will be there to greet you as you come in and would LOVE to sit with you if you come by yourself. The Well happens on Sunday nights in Allendale or Grand Rapids. You can find out when the next gathering is under the Upcoming Events page!
While The Well is a blast, we never want you to walk out for just "another week of school." Life Groups are CM's way of offering connection during the week and doing life together (House Groups are the downtown version!) CM Groups meet once a week on and off-campus. Every group has its own unique dynamic, but they are all centered around conversations about life and digging deeper into The Well's teaching. Feel free to bring your friends, too!
Part of CM's culture is simply HAVING FUN!! We do various activities for all interest-levels, just as an opportunity to be together, laugh with one another, and spent time getting to know each other. These include events ranging from a giant Super Bowl party to campus-wide capture the flag to a Harvest Party, as well as opportunities to volunteer and serve! Check out the next Upcoming Events here!
I've been at GVSU for a while, but I'm just getting involved now!
For all our Lakers, there are so many ways for you to get plugged into our CM community. If you live on or near campus and are ever in need of a study break, come by the office! There are often many snacks, laughs, and other students.
I'm new to gvsu!
Welcome, welcome to Grand Valley! Whether you are a freshman or a transfer student, coming to a new college is a huge transition. We at CM want to support you in whatever way we can. Here are a couple ways for you to get more information!
Next Steps
- Come to the Well! Sundays in Allendale 6 & 8 pm and Grand Rapids 7 pm.
- Come to a Friday night event that we host - easy to join into the action this way!
- Join a CM Group!! We want you to be known and to know other people in our community!
- Send an email introduction to us! We check our email regularly and would love to give you more info!
- Ask to meet up with one of our staff or students; we'd LOVE to get to know you!
high school students
We get it. Finishing HS can be scary and exhilarating at the same time, but we want you to have people to help you during the transition! If you are exploring GVSU, wondering what ministry/spiritual life looks like on campus, want to come to one of our events, want to talk to a current student or staff member and ask some questions, or all of the above, this section is for you!
Next Steps
- Please send us an email! Any of our staff or students would love to answer any questions or concerns you have about Grand Valley in general or Campus Ministry.
- If you have a tour, stop by our offices so we can meet you! The Cook-DeWitt Center (white building by the clocktower) is open Monday to Thursday 10-4 and Friday 10-2.
- If you want to meet with a student or staff member, we'd love to make that happen! To talk about being a Christian in college, to ask questions about GVSU, anything! Just shoot our office an email or give us a call at (616) 331-3261. We'd love to meet you!
non-gvsu students
Even if you are not a Laker (but still, Anchor Up!), we have a place for you!! We know that everyone's life looks different, so we want to create space for you in Campus Ministry whether you are attending GVSU or not. Lots of students (or non-students) from 18-25ish are involved in our ministry, and we're glad every one of them is here! Non-GVSU students are welcome at any Campus Ministry events.
Helpful Links
Next Steps
- Come to the Well!!! Sundays in Allendale 6 & 8 pm and Grand Rapids 7 pm.
- Come to a Friday night event that we host - easy to join into the action this way!
- Join a CM Group! We want you to be known and to know other people in our community!
- Please send us an email! We'd love to know about your connection to GVSU. Tell us what you are curious about or let us know how you want to be involved! We want to make space for you!!!
