Prayer List

Students – They head out, back to their communities. Pray for their continued growth, ability to find faithful churches, and press forward in Christ. the summer is typically where we see the most backwards movement for students.

Seniors – A lot of seniors are still struggling to find jobs post graduation.

The University – We want to see a culture and mindset shift that would allow us to reach more students with the Gospel.

Campus Ministry Thoughts

We transition from the active spring season to a focused administrative period now, I’m thrilled to share the exciting initiatives we’re undertaking at Serve The King Ministries to prepare for a vibrant fall season! I will be diligently working on several key projects to enrich our ministry and serve our community effectively:

1. Fall Bible Studies & Resource Library: We’re organizing Bible studies for the upcoming semester and curating a collection of enriching books as alternative resources for students, fostering spiritual growth and engagement. This involves me and a few others men actively making Bible Studies from scratch for students that move away from the “how does this make you feel” problem that many Bible Studies have, and instead provide avenues for either basic instruction or advanced diving into certain topics (like the 10 commandments or preparing for marriage)
2. Gospel Outlines & Worship Enhancements: We’re developing clear, impactful gospel outlines to equip students with foundational knowledge. Additionally, I’m learning guitar to lead worship, enhancing our gatherings with music. This is often a role left to students, but we are finding ourselves in need of a Guitarist, so here we go.
3. Inspiring Guest Speakers: We’re excited to host three dynamic speakers—Keith Darrell, Max Curell, and, pending confirmation, Pastor Vander Galien from Wisconsin—to inspire and challenge our community. Keith will be on campus for a whole week with me preaching the Gospel, Max will be preaching one of our retreats on the necessity of the Christian faith for salvation and Pastor Vander Galien would be preaching at our Winter retreat on battling the constant call of satan in leading us to a “nominal” faith.
4. Campus Infrastructure Projects: To create welcoming spaces, we’re building picnic tables, chairs, a Gaga ball pit, signage, and a mobile hot cocoa and food cart. Thanks to a generous $4,000 grant from Michigan Technological University USG, this cart will serve as a hub for connection at campus events next year. I will be able to provide some food at Hockey games (Tech vs NMU) and talk to people about the Gospel, we will also be able to go around during the weeks of statue building at night and have conversations with people about Christ while they build.
5. Fundraising & Outreach Efforts: Our administrative focus includes fundraising and advertising to sustain and grow our ministry’s impact. I am hoping to make some more connections, promo videos, teachings for Youtube, and develop a strong cultural underbelly so students and parents who find us see the value of what we are doing on campus. Your continued support makes all of this possible!

I’m also excited to share our Board’s vision to distinctly position our ministry as a beacon of biblical truth on Michigan Technological University’s campus. In a landscape where many campus ministries struggle to move beyond nominal Christianity, we are committed to standing apart by boldly proclaiming the Gospel and fostering genuine discipleship. We’ve observed that some campus groups face challenges due to a lack of clear instruction and accountability, resulting in an unwillingness or inability to share the Gospel effectively. Many students are so bogged down in sin, especially the Christian ones, where they are rendered no different from the rest of campus. Recent events, such as the universities “Faith and LGBTQ+” where Cru had two speakers, promotes perspectives misaligned with biblical values, underscore the need for a ministry grounded in truth and love, instead of this unbalanced affection people have with love. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the consequences of these gaps, and we believe the next decade will be pivotal in defining the Gospel’s presence at MTU. Unlike larger universities where cultural trends have taken deeper root, MTU remains a unique environment where we have an opportunity to build a strong, countercultural foundation for the Gospel. We’re hoping to seize this moment to cultivate a community that equips students with sound doctrine, holds fast to biblical convictions, and engages the campus with clarity and compassion. Our differentiation lies in our unwavering commitment to:

• Biblical Teaching: Providing robust instruction through Bible studies, gospel outlines, and curated resources to equip students to live and share their faith confidently.
• Accountability: Fostering a culture of discipleship and mentorship to ensure our community reflects Christ’s character and mission.
• Gospel Proclamation: Boldly preaching the unchanging truth of the Gospel while lovingly engaging a campus in need of hope.

With your prayers and support, we are building a ministry that not only stands firm but also sets a course for revival at MTU. Together, we can shape a future where students encounter the transformative power of Christ and carry it forward. Thank you for partnering with us in this critical mission.
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Lastly, we have two promising developments on the horizon for Serve The King Ministries. First, we are exploring the addition of a new bi-vocational minister to our team, who would relocate to serve alongside us until full funding is secured. We’ll keep you updated as this opportunity progresses. Second, we are in discussions about accessing a local church next year as a dedicated space for our events and to host community gatherings for MTU students. These possibilities could significantly expand our Gospel impact, and we’re excited to see how God leads!

These efforts reflect our commitment to glorifying God and serving students with excellence. We’re grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and financial partnership as we prepare to make a lasting impact in the coming year.

To God be the Glory

Brandon Charbonneau