Several years ago, when Kory Plockmeyer was a graduate student at the University of Florida, he longed to be a part of an on-campus faith community. “Graduate school can be an especially trying time for students. Christians like myself who pursue advanced degrees can often feel isolated,” he says.
Plockmeyer hopes similarly-minded students will be drawn to Campus Edge Fellowship, the new campus ministry he leads for graduate students and faculty at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
“My hope is that Campus Edge provides an environment in which graduate students can delve into the richness of God’s creation and learn more from one another as we experience life together,” he says.
Plockmeyer, who graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary this year, hopes to offer a welcoming environment for both believers and those who haven’t committed their lives to Christ. He plans to host small-group Bible studies, community events, and academic events during which students can discuss integrating faith into the world of academia. “The Reformed worldview is especially fitting for a graduate student or faculty member, as it offers a comprehensive lens to view all aspects of one’s life,” Plockmeyer notes.
Campus Edge Fellowship is the brainchild of River Terrace Christian Reformed Church in East Lansing, which has a long history of supporting such ministries. “We actually moved our church closer to Michigan State University to be more effective reaching students,” says Howard Person, a River Terrace member who chairs the board of Campus Edge Fellowship.
After finding that undergraduates were already well-served by campus ministries, River Terrace members started focusing on graduate students and faculty members.
A group including MSU graduate students, professors, and church leaders gathered in spring 2008 to talk about establishing a new campus ministry, which became Campus Edge. Christian Reformed Home Missions and Classis Lake Erie then came alongside the group to help launch the ministry.
Please see www.campusedgemsu.com for more information about the ministry.
—Christian Reformed Home Missions
