CODC 2024-2025 Annual Report by campusoutreach

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

In John 10:4, Jesus said that as the Good Shepherd, when “he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

“He goes before them.” This year on campus, we have seen the truth of these words unfold again and again. Before our staff ever stepped foot on a campus, before a Bible study began or a conversation started, the Shepherd was already at work—preparing hearts, opening doors, going before us.

As many in our culture have begun to notice, there is a growing dissatisfaction with secularism. Interest in religion and substantive conversations about things that matter is surging. Our Good Shepherd is going before us. I think of an atheist friend I met in the cafeteria at the University of Maryland who soon after our first conversation “invited himself” to church to learn more. I think of the classrooms at Howard University that unexpectedly filled up for

Paul and Stephanie Billings

June, Ava, Ainsley, & Emma

an ordinary Bible study on Wednesday night. I think of 172 students signing up for our Winter Retreat this year, overwhelming us with transportation challenges (almost none of them have cars, after all!)

The Good Shepherd went before our organization in other ways too. When we felt a need for more laborers, God worked in 4 new graduates, compelling them to join our staff team this year. He provided the support and encouragement we needed through health challenges and fatigue every step of the way.

Thank you for walking with us— through your prayers, giving, and encouragement. You’ve helped send us, but more than that, you’ve joined us in trusting the One who goes before.

In the pages that follow, I hope that you’ll get a small glimpse into everything that God has been doing. We’ve chosen a few stories to highlight, but God has done so much more! And as we partner together in sharing God’s good news with the world, I’ve also included some of what I’ve learned over the years about evangelism, in the hope that it will give confidence and skill for your own relationships.

With joy and gratitude,

Paul Billings Executive Director, Campus Outreach DC

2024-2025 STAFF TEAM

STAFF TESTIMONY

Georgetown University

Sometimes, God uses people to go before us. Around 15 years ago, one of the first students ever involved in Campus Outreach at Georgetown was a football player named Chad. Chad prayed for years that God would reach the Georgetown football team. 15 years later, God went before us to make good on Chad’s prayers by preparing several spiritually hungry men on the team to cross paths with CO. Our campus director, Nick, constantly ran into football players who wanted to know Jesus more, in CO meetings, in the dining hall, through mutual connections, and even just on the street. It seemed like God was making a football ministry inevitable.

Nick finally decided to start a Bible study on the team Fall 2024, only to realize that a Bible study of around 10 football players already existed! God was already on the move, preparing the soil of that Bible study group for Nick to step in and start sowing. Some of the students would sometimes remark, “I’ve never heard about Christianity like this before!” Seven football players came with us to our Winter Retreat, and since then, they have been getting more and more enfolded into the CO Georgetown community. For ministry in the Georgetown football team, God went before us, in one sense, 15 years ago, and He is still going before us now!

Football

Bible Study

Men’s Retreat

Nick Na

STAFF TESTIMONY

Howard University

Other times, God goes before us to open otherwise closed doors. This year, we’ve clearly seen how God went before us in dorm ministry. Even without previous connections, God opened a door through new relationships with students and staff. These relationships allowed us to consistently visit one dorm when other dorms were harder to get connected to.

During freshman week, when only freshmen are on campus, we hosted a “Navigating College as a Christian” event and met over 50 spiritually interested students. Many of them stayed connected throughout the year, bringing friends to Bible studies and retreats, joining our local church, and receiving training in evangelism and discipleship through this summer’s Alpha Project.

God also went before us in evangelism. Our cross-cultural project in Lusaka, Zambia shaped our vision for reaching students in the dorms and inspired us to pursue non-Christian students through relational evangelism. Meagan and Kailyn, two Christian RAs in in the dorm, were intentional about living out their faith and eager to partner with us. A group of spiritually hungry freshmen had already started a Bible study before we even arrived, creating a strong Christian presence. This made the dorm a natural place for ministry to grow.

Over pancakes and board games, we’ve built meaningful relationships with students like Malahni, Jourdan, Danae, and Joe. The dorm has become more than a place of outreach. It now functions as a spiritual hub and a central location for rides to church and discipleship. God clearly prepared both people and places ahead of us.

Games and Bracelet Making in Annex Dorm

HBCU Fall Retreat

Enya McDaniels

EVANGELISM TRAINING

Live Wires for Christ (by Paul Billings)

I’ve told our staff before that if Jesus is the power source and we’re connected to Him, then we should think of ourselves as “live wires.” When someone touches a live wire, they feel it. That’s my aim in every gospel conversation: to be the most surprising interaction they’ve had that day. Not rude. Not weird. But unforgettable.

In the gospels, not everyone liked Jesus. But everyone was shocked by Him. In John 7:46 they admitted it: “No one ever spoke like this man!”

So how do we carry that same voltage? Here are three practices I’ve tried to embrace in conversations with students who are new to Christianity.

1) State a contested truth… confidently.

Clearly and assertively share what’s true—even if it’s hard to believe. For example, I’ve underscored that I really believe that Jesus bodily rose from the dead, as unusual as that sounds.

2) Counter a common stereotype… authentically.

What are the stereotypes of Christians in your life? On campus, I try to counter the stereotype that religious people are close minded by being genuinely interested in what others believe and always assuming they have something to teach me.

3) Ask a divisive question… kindly.

It’s easy to talk about faith without ever really learning where someone stands with the Lord. But some questions require a definitive yes or no answer. Ask those questions, kindly, sincerely, and with a smile on your face.

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL

Even as God has gone before us on the campus, He has come alongside us through the hundreds of partners who financially and prayerfully support our ministry. Thank you! Your donations are God’s means of keeping us on the campus, and your prayers give life to all we do. We could not do any of this without you!

Our prayer is that this annual report will help you to see God going before you in your own life. We pray it will spark your own evangelism; that it will encourage your prayers; and that it will strengthen your faith. Join us in standing in awe of the God who goes before us, and in seeking to follow in the good works that He has prepared!