As a non-profit organization we focus on helping church-based college-age ministry leaders. We want to connect you with the resources specifically designed for your ministry. We offer resources (free as well as for purchase) and link you to other practical resources others have to offer. We also provide regional trainings in various cities around the country and do a lot of consulting for churches seeking to start or further develop their ministry to college age people.
Here's a little more about the people on our team...
Founder: Chuck Bomar
Web: www.collegeleader.org
Blog: http://www.collegeministrythoughts.com/
After serving for almost 9 years as pastor of Student Ministries at Cornerstone in Simi Valley, CA where he started a college ministry from scratch, Chuck Bomar has now planted Colossae Church in Portland, Oregon. He is the founder of CollegeLeader and has created numerous resources for college ministry leaders. He is author of College Ministry From Scratch, College Ministry 101: a guide to working with 18-25 year olds, 99 Thought’s for College-age People. and co-author of The Slow Fade. Chuck is married to Barbara, and together they have two daughters; Karis and Hope. Chuck speaks frequently and has a tremendous heart for youth workers, especially those in college-age ministry. Chuck's passion for truth and people have kept him in ministry for the past 15 years.
Some of his published articles:
Graduating Church _Journal of Student Ministries
Missing Both Ends _YouthWorker Journal
A Whole New Life: leaving the comforts of home _College View
Let The Search Begin: back to square one _College View
Junior Highers Have More Fun: similarities with college-age people _SYM
re-thinking (true) discipleship _Simply Youth Ministry
Top Topics for College-age people to hear
Top Topics: part II
Rules of Engagement: non-negotiables for connecting with college-age people _Journal of Student Ministries
Matt Metzger
Web: http://www.blackhawkcam.org
Church Website: http://www.blackhawkchurch.org
Spending the majority of his life in South Florida, Matt now serves as the College Pastor at Blackhawk Church in Madison, WI. He’s been there since August of 2000 ministering primarily to students attending the University of Wisconsin. He was brought there to start the ministry and over the years has created a very unique and close partnership with major para-church ministries on campus. Matt has a passion to look at how the church and para-church ministries can effectively work together to more effectively reach a campus community for Christ. Matt has a close working relationship with Passion Ministries in Atlanta and has been a breakout session speaker for them. Matt also speaks on a regular basis at many campus ministries in Madison. Matt and his wife Rachel have two daughters - Hannah and Leah. Matt loves any type of board sport (surfing, wakeboarding, skateboarding, snowboarding) and is still on some type of board often. He still plays doubles beach volleyball as much as the weather in Wisconsin will allow and his favorite musician in the world is Jack Johnson.
Brad Baker
Web: saddlebackfamily.com/blogs/crave/index.html
Brad Baker moved to California in July of ’05 to work with the college-age young adults at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. After 7 years of college ministry experience his passion continues to grow to see this generation experience God and make him famous through their lives. His wife (Carrie) and 3 kids (Olivia, Jackson, and Lucy) play an integral part in helping him shape the hearts and minds of young people. He began taking short-term mission trips in ’92 and now finds great joy in helping his students partner with churches around the world each summer. His favorite free time activities include; wrestle-mania with his 3 year old son, Colorado Avalanche hockey, baptizing new believers, Thai food, strategy games, huge waves, foreign cultures, reading anything by NT Wright, and dinner with his small group.
Bob Hetzler
Blog: www.cenational.org/cenational/bobsblog/
Bob lives in Southern California and with over 20 years experience serving youth is a full-time consultant to churches and other Christian organizations, focusing on college-age people. Having served as a resident director on a college campus Bob brings a different perspective to church-based college ministry – he sees ministry through the eyes of working with students on campus. Bob has a very close relationship with CE National, writing a blog for them, doing seminars on Millennials, and advising churches who want to start a college-age ministry. Bob loves to read, was a history teacher (in another lifetime!), he loves anything with meat in it, and is loyal to southern California teams – especially the Dodgers and USC football.
Abbie Smith
Web/Blog: www.conversantlife.com/blogs/abbie+smith/
Abbie was born in the large state of Rhode Island, and grew-up in Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended Catholic High School and eventually went on to play tennis at Emory University. Through the influence of friends, she was introduced to a relationship with God during her freshman year. Long-story short (though it was pretty short), Abbie haphazardly ended-up compiling a book to this end, which released soon after her graduation in 2003. She's gone on to write a follow-up Study Guide and an updated edition of her first book. With personal involvements in ministry, local church and missionary roles across the world, Abbie brings a wide array of interests to the table. She's worked on various fronts with Passion Conferences and is currently doing a Masters in Spiritual Formation in Los Angeles. Abbie's schedule entails "life as a student," as well as writing and speaking as she's able. Her ideal day entails being with friends, or sipping a (soy) latte in the mountains, at the ocean, or in the corner of a local coffee shop.
David Flaig
Dave grew up in Northridge, CA and after endeavoring to be a pro soccer player he felt God calling him into the ministry. He now works with college-age people at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, CA. Dave graduated in 1991 from Biola University with his Bachelor's degree in Christian Education and received his Master of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary in 1994. He has spent the last 20 years working with college students and student ministries. Dave is a frequent conference/camp speaker and has a heart for developing and training youth workers. He is married to his beautiful bride, Heather, and has three handsome young boys. Some interesting things to know about Dave are:
(1) He once worked on a dude ranch in Colorado.
(2) To him AVP means "Association of Volleyball Professionals" not alien vs. predator.
(3) He's taken two separate girls (who were roommates) on the exact same date
(4) He's a big fan of the Colorado Avalanche.
(5) He led the ministry community in response to the Tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999.
Published articles:
Turning Pop Culture into High Culture_YouthWorker journal
How Music Affects My Teen_The Link
"I" on America_The Evangel
Lion On The Loose_ The Torch
If you'd like to be contacted by a mentor, please email us at: info@collegeleader.org and we'll get you connected!
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