History and Overview
Campus Outreach began in 1978 as a college ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Since its inception, the ministry has focused on reaching, developing, and sending Christ-like leaders into the world with a global vision. This emphasis has led to rapid ministry growth both on a national and international level. Today, there are around 40 distinct franchise ministries of Campus Outreach, 18 of those in international locations.
Campus Outreach Atlanta launched in 1999 out of the fruitful ministry of Campus Outreach Augusta. Perimeter Church has served as our regional church since our launch. The ministry initially landed at the University of Georgia and North Georgia College & State University, adding Georgia Tech as a third campus in its first couple of years. At its most expansive, CO Atlanta employed 35 full-time staff serving on 5 campuses in the metro Atlanta and North Georgia region. The last decade has proven to be a season of pruning and sending out many of these leaders into different spheres of the world. We currently are serving on the campuses of Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.
Vision
Our vision is to see people throughout our campuses, cities, and the world, come into a life-transforming encounter with the Kingdom of God. We hope that our evangelism and discipleship on the college campus will multiply beyond the campus and continue for generations.
Mission
Our mission is glorifying God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world.
Glorifying God
As the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, "Mankind's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." In all that we do, we desire to glorify God, and our hope is that those we disciple will adopt this desire as well because God is worthy of all glory. There is no one more important than God Himself and it is right for Him to receive honor, glory, and praise from all people and all of creation.
By Building Laborers
Jesus says in Matthew 9:37-38 that "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." We desire to pray this prayer, be the laborers who are sent, and train up more laborers to go. That's why the focus of our ministry is evangelism and discipleship. We define a laborer as someone who has been transformed by the love of Christ, is committed to a Christ-centered community, and is motivated by Christ's commission to make disciples (spiritual multiplication).
On the Campus
Campus Outreach is specifically on university and college campuses. We have a heart for college students who are in a pivotal point in their lives where they begin to live on their own and make big life decisions.
For the Lost World
Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 28:19 to "make disciples of all nations." The world is in desperate need of the Gospel, and we want to make and train disciples who will also make and train disciples all throughout the world for God's glory and the joy of His people.
Distinctives
Relational Evangelism
Campus Outreach has a strong commitment to sharing the Gospel with unbelieving students on our campuses. We believe that this is commanded and modeled throughout scripture. The opportunity to engage students over the gospel is both a privilege and calling for us. We look at the texts like Romans 10:13-15 and 2 Timothy 4:2 as the scriptural basis for sharing our faith with unbelieving students on the campus.
Life-on-life Discipleship
We believe the best spiritual development takes place in the context of relationships. We are committed to opening our Bibles and our lives with one another. This emphasizes our value for the authority of God’s Word and the authenticity that is experienced through life-on-life relationships. We focus primarily on discipling new and young believers while training them to do the same with their fellow college students This is what we believe Jesus meant in Matthew 28:18-20 when he calls his people to make disciples.
Commitment to the Church
Each Campus Outreach franchise is under the authority and leadership of a regional church body which serves as a crucial source of authority, resources, and leadership. We also partner with local churches near our campuses that serve as a weekly expression of the bride of Christ to our staff and students. By functioning in partnership with and under the authority of these churches, we are preparing the next generation of leaders for a lifetime of service in the Body of Christ.
Growth Strategy through Multiplication
We have found that the most effective way to grow big is by staying small. Campus Outreach is made up of 40 independent “franchises” throughout the world. Once a franchise grows large enough, it reproduces and launches new staff members to a new region, in partnership with a “franchise church”. This new host church assumes all authority and oversight for that franchise. So in essence Campus Outreach is an organic collection of the 40 college ministries of individual churches which share a common vision and strategy but with no central headquarters or central authority.
Our Regional Hub Church
Campus Outreach Atlanta is under the authority of Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, Georgia. This authority expresses itself through church elders and staff giving oversight, accountability, and leadership to the ministry. While having an interdenominational profile on our campuses, we are a ministry of Perimeter Church and adopt its theological beliefs.
We believe the authority of a local church over our ministry is both a blessing and benefit to us as well as advances Christ's mission around the world.
Learn more ABOUT US
We are the Atlanta region of Campus Outreach, an interdenominational college ministry that focuses on evangelism and discipleship. As the Atlanta region, we are considered a ministry of Perimeter Church.
