Your offering helps college students grow as disciples

When Regan Goluba began college at Northern Arizona University, she had no idea where the Lord would take her.

Throughout Arizona, all chapters of Christian Challenge share a defined mission: to engage college students with the gospel, develop disciples of Jesus Christ, mobilize servant leaders for the church and send missionaries to the world. Every aspect of this mission is seen in Regan and her growth during college

As a freshman, she became involved in Christian Challenge at Northern Arizona University. She attended a weekly Challenge Community (missional Bible study) and participated in many evangelism, discipleship, leadership and missions activities Christian Challenge and Challenge Church had to offer. Now a junior dental hygienist student, Regan has reflected on all the ways the Lord has changed her.

Regan was raised in a Christian household but through the discipleship process came to an understanding of Christ’s Lordship and the need to surrender to the gospel. Through connection with Christian Challenge and attending Challenge Church, Regan realized she had never truly responded to the gospel. Engagement with the gospel led her to committing her life to Christ. She shared that her need and obedience to follow through in believer’s baptism was her “next easy step.”

Regan attributes her growth in her walk with Christ to being discipled and studying God’s Word through her church, during weekly Challenge Communities, meeting with Christian Challenge staff and student leaders, personal Bible study and weekly collegiate large group worship gatherings.

This past spring, she joined the Campus Missionary Team (student leaders) and will co-lead a Challenge Community this fall. In the fall, she and her team will strive to engage Northern Arizona University, sharing the gospel and helping students grow in their walks with Christ during college, preparing them to serve in the local church during and after their college experience and developing in them a missions mindset.

As a member of Challenge Church, she has the opportunity to serve in various ministries and learn how the Lord is teaching her to be a servant leader.

“Christian Challenge and Challenge Church have stressed the importance of spiritual disciplines and given me real-world applications and resources that make sense,” Regan says.

Last fall Regan learned about the partnership between the Arizona Mission Network and the International Mission Board’s Sub-Saharan Africa Affinity. When she heard about an upcoming Christian Challenge mission trip, her heart was captivated by the thought of serving in Africa.

“I chose to go on this mission trip because I wanted to see how God moves among the nations and I wanted to serve Him in a setting that is new and forces me to be uncomfortable,” Regan says.

Regan prepared for this trip by beginning to learn the language, using a website and watching videos to practice speaking and hearing words and phrases to help her connect with the people she would serve. She tried cooking foods and staying informed about local news so she could pray.

Her team served in street evangelism, discipling refugees, feeding and encouraging homeless youth and helping to connect with university students.

“I learned God’s grace and goodness is the same no matter where you go,” Regan says. “I also learned that God can change you so much in a short amount of time. As a junior in college, I want to bring all of the amazing things I learned back into America.”

When you give to the Arizona Mission Offering, you provide for college students like Regan to engage in the Great Commission.

Pray for Christian Challenge as they Engage college students with the gospel, Develop disciples of Jesus Christ, Mobilize servant leaders for the church and Send missionaries to the world.

Lainee Pegelow, a freelance writer and photographer, is communications specialist, missions coordinator and a campus missionary for Christian Challenge AZ. She is a member of Challenge Church, Flagstaff.