Two Year
Ministry Plan

Earlier this month, we were excited to host the very first NEXT retreat! NEXT is a ministry designed to engage college students in a way that tethers them to the local church and grows them as followers of Christ during a pivotal season of life.

The event took place at Pine Cove, and 120 students attended, along with 35 leaders and volunteers. Students heard teaching on the topics of fragility and resilience and how our obsessive focus on self leads to anxiety and/or arrogance. There was a lot for students to process, and they were thankful for their leaders and one another to be able to discuss these ideas in community and spend time in worship. And of course, they also had time for pickleball, socializing, playing games, and a dessert hour trivia challenge!

Many participants expressed their gratitude for biblical teaching on these topics. As they go back to a college environment where everyone is continually stressed or overwhelmed, our prayer is that they would continue to try and figure out what it looks like to follow Jesus as a college student. Will you join us in praying that they would find a sturdy hope outside of their circumstances and anchor themselves in the stability of God’s Word and the local church?

If you would like to learn more about NEXT, please email Dillon Carpenter at [email protected].

Last fall, Grace Anderson launched NEXT—a ministry designed to engage college students in a way that tethers them to the local church and grows them as followers of Christ during a pivotal season of life. It has been exciting to see how this ministry has grown over its first full year.

Students from Anderson University, Clemson University, and a few other schools have come together for teaching and equipping events, as well as worship nights and times of fellowship. Each student who becomes part of NEXT gets placed into a group, and we currently have three groups of 14-16 students each. Groups are led by leaders who are in the next season of life and ready to pour into these college students.

One team of leaders had this to say about their experience:

Leading a NEXT group has been such a blessing and encouragement. In the first year of our group, we have witnessed students open up to true biblical community, become faithful serving members in the local body, and learn to study the Bible. The students who meet in our home every Tuesday have become our family!

As this school year has wrapped up, it’s been a blessing to see how God has grown this community of college students, both individually and corporately. Many have attended Discovery and are serving, and many are also moving towards membership. Please pray with us for this next generation of leaders in our churches and communities. If you want to learn more about NEXT or get involved, please email Dillon Carpenter at [email protected].

Transitioning from high school to adulthood is a challenging time for many, and for believers, a supportive community rooted in the local church is essential. Located near several universities and colleges, our Anderson and Powdersville campuses have a unique opportunity to disciple the young adults attending their services. This has grown into Grace NEXT, a ministry specifically geared toward college and college-aged students.

“We are wanting to meet them at a pivotal moment in their lives and help them grow into mature followers of Jesus Christ,” Stephen Dickey, our Anderson campus pastor says. This fall, the Anderson campus welcomed students with a college cookout and launched three student groups, which will be studying the new Understanding the Bible leadership track. A few weeks ago, they hosted a worship night, focusing on the theme of finding rest in Christ. Our Powdersville campus just held an initial NEXT interest meeting, and with around 50 Clemson students attending, they’re looking forward to growing the ministry throughout the year.

Will you pray for NEXT at our Anderson and Powdersville campuses? Ask God for willing leaders to step up, and for him to give them influence in the lives of students. Pray that they would make meaningful connections and students would grow in their faith.

For more information on Grace NEXT, reach out to your campus staff, or fill out a connect card.