5 ways Christian Challenge saw life change in the 2025-2026 school year

How do we measure success in ministry?  

First, we seek God’s plans, rather than making our own and asking Him to bless them. Then, we are obedient to do what He has called us to do. 

God has called Christian Challenge, the collegiate ministry of the Arizona Mission Network, to engage college students with the gospel, develop disciples of Jesus Christ, mobilize servant leaders for the church and send missionaries to the world.

With the partnership of local churches, Christian Challenge is fulfilling that mission on 24 campuses around Arizona. 

Obedience is the first mark of success. But numbers also help tell the story of how God is moving on college campuses and in the lives of students.

With a new school year just beginning, we’re still celebrating how God moved during the 2025-2026 school year. 

1. Students were engaged in sharing the gospel — to see the lost, have compassion for them and obediently pursue those God has placed in their lives.

• 383 Challenge students were involved in evangelism.
• 2,002 college students heard the gospel.
• 54 students made professions of faith.
• 28 students were baptized.

2. Students were developed as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Christian walk should always be moving forward. Students were encouraged to see their need for growth, put their sin to death, seek holiness over comfort and deepen their knowledge of God’s Word.

• 71 Challenge Communities engaged students. These are small group Bible studies that are biblical, relational and missional.
• 100 Challenge students led a Challenge Community.
• 401 students were discipled through Challenge Communities.

3. Student were mobilized as servant leaders for the church and challenged to see the importance of serving the church today instead of waiting until they finish college.

• 100 Challenge students were involved in leadership.
• 20 Challenge students were prepared for vocational ministry.

4. Students were sent as missionaries to the world. Christian Challenge helped students see and know that the greatest need people have is Jesus and that they can engage that world on their own campuses and by serving abroad.

• 125 Challenge students were involved in missions.
• 7 mission trips were organized.
• $41,607.80 was raised so that Challenge students could serve.

5. Campus missionaries created opportunities for ministry engagement throughout the school year.

• 721 students regularly participated in weekly ministry.
• 3,042 students were involved in ministry, participating in at least one thing. 
• 110 international students were engaged. 

These figures provide a tangible way to measure obedience —  to know that the thousands of hours of prayer and preparation have a kingdom impact. 

Each and every one of these numbers represents a life —  a person Jesus is pursuing for a relationship.  They are lives that are worthy of our time and efforts; lives that have come to know Jesus Christ; lives that are being discipled and growing deeper in their faith; lives that are being mentored to lead His church; and lives that will take the gospel to the world.