Christian missionaries are a common sight on campus, often seen walking up to students in high-traffic areas and inviting them to Bible studies.
Kevin Hazlett, associate pastor at Raleigh’s Beacon Baptist Church and a campus minister for Collegians for Christ, is among them.
Collegians for Christ, or CFC, is one of more than 40 Christian organizations at NC State. The organization dissolved two semesters ago when many student leaders graduated. However, CFC re-registered at NC State in January.
“Our last meeting, when it comes to NC State students who attended, it was me and our treasurer,” said William Lance, a third-year studying mechanical engineering and president of CFC. “We’re hoping to expand a little more and have more students come.”
Lance said CFC members find places on campus where many students walk through, give handouts to students and invite them to weekly Bible study.
“I would say around 30% of the people I talk to would take handouts,” Lance said. “People who are walking by themselves are more likely to take handouts.”
Hazlett said they also table in Talley Student Union.
“A lot of times, we’d ask them if we can pray for them, we’d have conversations and obviously let them know about Bible study,” Hazlett said.
Hazlett said CFC focuses on Bible studies instead of a meeting for a full service.
“We believe the Bible is what contains the power to change lives and so that’s what we try to stick with,” Hazlett said.
Hazlett also said CFC makes sure to do small group Bible studies.
“We’re able to have small group discussions throughout the Bible study,” Hazlett said. “If you have a question, it’s a lot easier to ask in a small group versus a bigger group.”
Lance said his motivation stems from personal experience.
“My passion for doing this kind of thing comes because I’ve personally seen in my life how God can really change someone’s life — make it do a complete 180,” Lance said.
Hazlett said while they don’t reach many people, the few that they do makes it all worthwhile.
“We may not ever have hundreds of students, but whoever God does allow our paths to cross with, we’re willing to just do whatever we can to help them,” Hazlett said.
Hazlett said a lot of students who start coming to the Bible study were invited by their friends.
“Where we find that our best connections come from is once you get a few students actually coming, it’s oftentimes their friends and their classmates,” Hazlett said.
Another Bible study group, InterVarsity for graduate students, also relies on friend invitations, among other things. The group meets in a Christian couple’s home near Cup A Joe.
At a recent meeting, eight students gathered with Laura Prewitt, a campus staff minister for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. Bethany Mostert, a doctoral student studying plant and microbial biology, led a prayer before the group shared a meal. The evening included singing and an in-depth discussion of John 9, focusing on Jesus healing a blind man.
The group, which started in January of 2024, includes a few non-Christians but hasn’t seen any conversions yet.
Jess Rugeley, a graduate student studying textile chemistry, joined the group after being involved with InterVarsity at her undergraduate institution. Rugeley started her studies at NC State this January.
Rugeley said her faith became stronger since she became more independent.
“I’ve had to rely on God and my faith through certain things,” Rugeley said. “As life continues, I feel like we all go through more and more hardships.”
Rugeley also said she wants to meet new people.
“I feel like InterVarsity is a great place to do that, because it’s with people that I share values with, and I can have deeper and more meaningful relationships because of it,” Rugeley said.
Rugeley said she feels secure enough in her faith to bring it up to other people and ask them if they want to learn more about it.
“We want to fill up heaven,” Rugeley said. “We want it to be full with people that God loves and that we love, and just as Christians, it’s our goal and our duty, I think, to talk about Christ.”
