Spiritual Life & Student Ministries

Abilene Christian University

► The Office of Spiritual Life and Student Ministries seeks to support the mission of the university by facilitating spiritual formation in students by: encouraging them to be active members of a local congregation; providing spiritual formation experiences, short-term missions and outreach opportunities, and providing ministry to individual students.

Membership with a Local Congregation
► ACU is not a church!  We encourage all students to get connected and establish an ongoing, committed faith walk with a local church family here in Abilene.  Local congregations abound!  Many have College Ministries that offer programming specifically for students.  All congregations offer opportunities for students to get involved as active members.
► Need help finding a church?  Call or come by our office to get more information!

Spiritual Formation
► Spiritual Life Core - The SLC seeks to contribute to the spiritual formation of ACU students by encouraging and challenging them to grow in their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.  The SLC hosts the weekly “18:38” Chapel each Thursday, where contemporary cultural issues are addressed from a biblical perspective.  The SLC also helps to organize on-campus Bible studies, prayer gatherings, coffee houses where spiritual issues are discussed, and numerous other opportunities that seek to challenge participants to grow in their faith in Jesus.

Short-Term Missions and Outreach
► Spring Break Campaigns - Each year 500+ students travel to 30+ destinations throughout the western hemisphere during spring break to work with local churches, children's homes and inner-city ministries.  Sign-ups take place the first week of November.
► Weekend Campaigns - Every semester the Weekend Campaign Committee organizes three to four weekend campaigns that travel to various sites within a 6-8 hour driving radius of Abilene to serve and share Christ's love with others. Weekend Campaigns are comparable to mini-spring break campaigns.
► Awake 3:18 - named after 1 John 3:18, Awake 3:18 seeks to raise awareness, provide education, and offer ministry opportunities related to the global HIV/AIDS crisis, with focus being directed toward the African pandemic, as well as the needs of families affected by AIDS here in the Abilene area.

Want to get involved in any of these ministry-related student organizations?  Watch for announcements on my.acu or check with our office for more information!

Ministry to Individual Students
► The Office of SL&SM provides pastoral counseling to individual students and seeks to connect them with campus, church and community resources.  We also reach out to students who are dealing with family illness or loss of a loved one.

Mark Lewis, Director Mark.Lewis@acu.edu
Todd Ormsby, Area Coordinator Todd.Ormsby@acu.edu