What does it look like when the local church takes responsibility for reaching the university campus? In this episode, Jay sits down with Miriam Swanson, evangelist, speaker, and National Director of Fusion USA. Miriam shares her journey from a student at the University of York to championing the role of the church in discipling college students across continents. With stories ranging from choosing a church based on where her non-Christian friends might feel welcome to moving into overlooked neighborhoods as an act of obedience, Miriam’s life reflects a contagious passion for Jesus and the next generation. Together, they explore evangelism, discipleship, and the surprising ways God is moving among Gen Z both in Europe and the U.S.

https://www.fusionusa.org/ 

https://www.instagram.com/hellofusionusa/

https://www.fusionmovement.org/resources/product/howtomakedisciples

https://relate.younglife.org/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKPWqTllHh0 

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

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In this episode, Kristal Poff, pastor at New Life Christian Fellowship at Virginia Tech and co-director of the Adirondack Leadership Training Program, shares her 17-year journey in campus ministry—a story marked by God’s faithfulness through deep loss, unexpected callings, and a lifelong passion for evangelism. Kristal reflects on how formative relationships, personal grief, and a community that embodied the love of Christ shaped her vision for ministry. She offers practical insights on building trust, adapting evangelism methods for changing cultures, and helping students feel truly known and loved as a foundation for the gospel. Along the way, she tells powerful stories of transformation, shares her go-to scriptures, and explains why slowing down to walk with people is essential for long-term fruit. Whether you’re a seasoned campus minister or just starting out, Kristal’s wisdom will inspire you to lift your eyes, stay present, and keep at it—because Jesus is still changing lives on campus.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

Ryan Kozey has worn a lot of hats: campus missionary, professor, consultant, strategy lead, and church development director. In this conversation, he traces a journey that started as a Bowling Green State student in the late nineties and led to two decades of investing in college ministries and local churches across the United States. Ryan explains why the campus remains a strategic mission field, unpacks his data-driven “scorecard” for tracking spiritual growth and gospel impact, and shares practical ways churches can measure what they truly value. The discussion ranges from everyday dinner-table evangelism to the challenges of biblical literacy, the future of co-vocational church planting, and how small churches can out-innovate megachurches by staying nimble and collaborative. Listeners will also hear Ryan’s unexpected career “two truths and a lie,” the resources that shaped his view of discipleship, and his call to play the long game of faithful obedience.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

Ronnie Goble and Alfonso Mack have been following Jesus together since their college football days at Bowling Green State University. Now, they serve side by side at Rooted Church—a young, dynamic church plant in Metro Detroit focused on reaching the Woodward corridor with the gospel. In this episode, they share stories from their early days on campus, how a meal at Buffalo Wild Wings sparked a friendship that turned into a ministry partnership, and why they believe the local church is essential for long-term spiritual formation.

We talk about bold evangelism, the power of relational discipleship, and why southeast Michigan presents both unique challenges and incredible opportunities for gospel witness. Whether you’re planting a church, doing campus ministry, or just want to grow in living out your faith where you are, this episode will encourage and equip you.

Books:

Andy Crouch - the life we’re looking for - reclaiming relationship in a technological world

The relational soul 

Rooted Church Link: https://www.rootedch.com/ 

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

York Moore is a revivalist, innovator, abolitionist, and evangelist who’s spent nearly 30 years preaching the gospel on college campuses. In this episode, York shares his powerful story of encountering Jesus after a season of deep existential searching, and how that encounter propelled him into a lifelong mission of bold proclamation and justice-driven ministry. From launching national anti-trafficking campaigns that brought 6,000 people to Christ, to evangelizing on TikTok during the pandemic, York brings both conviction and creativity to the conversation. He unpacks what true gospel witness means—a Spirit-powered integration of proclamation and action—and challenges us to meet Gen Z with curiosity, boldness, and a renewed imagination. Whether you're in campus ministry, digital evangelism, or just wondering what it means to reach people in today’s world, York's wisdom is both inspiring and deeply grounded.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

Joanna Danielson didn’t set out to become a missionary. She was an environmental engineer—analytical, ambitious, and thriving in her consulting career. But a spring break trip and a string of Spirit-led conversations began to change everything. Slowly, God redirected her steps from boardrooms to dorm rooms.

In this episode, Joanna shares her journey from "absolutely not" to absolutely surrendered. Now serving full-time with New Life Church at the University of Michigan, she disciples students, leads worship, and shares Jesus boldly and faithfully—even when it costs her.

We talk about what it means to steward the gift of evangelism, how Gen Z is spiritually curious but relationally guarded, and why Joanna believes worship might be the most powerful gospel witness of all. She opens up about the slow, faithful process of leaving engineering, raising support, and stepping into ministry despite expectations.

Whether she’s leading late-night pancake outreach on frat row or praying for students who walked away from the gospel, Joanna offers a compelling picture of evangelism that’s more about presence than perfection.

You’ll walk away inspired by her honesty, challenged by her obedience, and reminded that a life trusting God cannot be wasted.

Resources Mentioned:

• GotQuestions.org: Joanna’s favorite resource for students wrestling with theology and doubt.
• Evangelism cohort training materials (Contact us to request a copy)
• Late night worship and prayer gatherings (not a resource—just an invitation to show up and be changed)

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

Welcome to the Collegiate Church Podcast, where we explore the real stories, challenges, and hope of gospel-centered ministry in a rapidly changing world. In this special kickoff to our new series on evangelism, we’re joined by Jim Murphy—pastor, church planter, and evangelistic leader with a passion for equipping everyday believers to live on mission.

From coming to Christ during his college years to helping launch churches across the country, Jim shares his powerful testimony and the lessons he's learned about what evangelism really looks like in the life of the local church. We talk about recovering the heart of the evangelist, why every believer can be equipped for mission, and how the Church can shift from isolated efforts to an evangelistic operating system.

This episode is for students sharing Jesus with roommates, leaders equipping their churches, and anyone longing for evangelism to feel accessible again.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

In this episode, we sit down with Hunter Chenevey, a full-time missionary with H2O Church at Kent State University. Hunter shares his journey from criminal justice major to campus missionary, his honest struggles and growth through support raising, and the lessons he's learning about work-life balance in ministry. We also delve into the critical role of stewardship and generosity in discipleship, exploring the impact of structured programs like The Well. Hunter’s passion for seeing college students transformed and sent into the world is contagious. Whether you’re in ministry, support raising, or simply seeking sustainable rhythms of rest, Hunter’s story offers encouragement, wisdom, and hope.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

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In this episode, Jess Schmidt—Campus Discipleship Director at H2O Church BG and Conference Director for the Collegiate Church Network—walks us through The Well, a six-week discipleship experience that has transformed hundreds of students’ lives. Learn what makes The Well so powerful, how it’s structured, why it works, and how it can be adapted for college campuses and local churches. Packed with insight, stories, and practical takeaways, this conversation will inspire anyone seeking to make disciples in a meaningful, reproducible way.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

In this episode, we sit down with Anna Jo, a full-time missionary at New Life Church in Ann Arbor, serving on campus at the University of Michigan. Anna shares her journey from pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering to answering the call to campus ministry. She opens up about the challenges of support raising, the joys of church planting, and the transformative power of Christian community. From childhood experiences in church plants to her passion for seeing new churches take root on college campuses, Anna’s story is an inspiring testament to God’s faithfulness. Tune in as we discuss calling, perseverance, and what it means to truly invest in the next generation.

https://www.collegiate.church/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/