Ruth Perkins Lee (front, left) builds relationships with students as part of her ministry at Auburn First Baptist Church.

AUBURN, Ala. – You wouldn’t think "VeggieTales" videos would capture the attention of many college students these days, but that’s precisely how Ruth Perkins Lee introduced a new Bible study for local college-age adults at Auburn First Baptist Church in Auburn, Ala. And it worked.

Lee, minister of students, is completing her second year of a three-year grant the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship provided to Auburn FBC for the express purpose of hiring a college minister. "My husband [Scott] and I both have a passion for college ministry because we recognize the important role the local church can play in the major life decisions of college students," Lee said.

The Fellowship agrees. "We believe strongly in the value and importance of ministry with college-age persons," said Terry Hamrick, CBF coordinator for leadership development. "This is an important time of vocational exploration and discernment. Our goal is to learn from their [Auburn FBC] process and use what they have learned to assist and encourage other congregations to make collegiate ministry a priority."

When Lee first started at the church, she spent the majority of her time talking about the positive and negative aspects of the existing college ministry with students who were already active members.

"We realized that other than Sunday school, most of the students did not see each other," said Lee, a graduate of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology. "We started the Tuesday night Bible studies, including dinner, so that we could all get to know each other better. The first summer we watched ‘VeggieTales’ videos and learned how to laugh and hang out together."

In addition to their weekly Bible studies, the group holds a Second Sunday Lunch to ensure that once a month everyone gets a chance to sit down, relax and catch up with one another.

"My main goal in the college ministry is to get to know the students," Lee said. "Students want to know that someone cares for them and keeps up with them.

"I am often amazed at how many questions students will answer openly and honestly if you take the time to ask and listen," she added. "Often, these conversations lead to deeper conversations concerning the spiritual aspects of their lives. By paying attention to their lives, I have opportunities to minister to them in specific ways that meet their needs."

One way of ministering to the specific needs of college-age adults is to incorporate their friends and their culture into their church life. For example, just as most college ministries are winding down for the summer, the Auburn FBC group gears up their "Theology in the Theaters" program. After viewing a movie, the group gathers to discuss the film’s theology and its relevance to their everyday lives.

As fall rolls around and the dorms open for a new school year, the group coordinates their largest outreach effort by handing out fliers describing their ministry along with bottles of water to students moving in.

Having celebrated her two-year anniversary in May, Lee has watched with enthusiasm the group’s growth during her tenure. "Our group has developed into one that enjoys being together – both to hang out and to study," she said. "The students are excited about what is going on. They enjoy having a place where they feel welcomed, both in the college group and in the church as a whole."

For information about the college ministry at Auburn FBC, contact Ruth Perkins Lee at (334) 887-8506 or Ruth@auburnfbc.org.

For more information about the Fellowship’s commitment to collegiate ministry, contact Terry Hamrick at (770) 220-1615 or thamrick@thefellowship.info.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.