About
Mission Statement: Campus Ministries creates diverse opportunities for students to engage relationally with God and others through Christian worship, faith-based dialogue, discipleship programs, and faith exploration opportunities.
- Explore: Cultivating spaces for anyone to ask questions and investigate belief in God.
- Grow: Cultivating spaces for growth in nurturing love for God, His Word, and His world.
- Serve: Cultivating spaces for communicating God’s redeeming love to the world through acts of service.
15 Bible studies & faith groups each semester
30 Chapel services held annually
150+ Students engaged each semester
Student Learning Goals
We seek to equip students with a number of competencies and skills, including:
- Demonstrate appreciation and respect for Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions
- Recognize and articulate questions and/or doubts regarding Christian beliefs, worldview, and identity
- Form loving relationships, marked by honesty, justice and compassion within the LCC learning community
- Develop in Christian faith through individual and corporate spiritual practices
- Demonstrate a commitment to service in our local community as a way of communicating the person and work of Jesus Christ to the world
Programs
Faith Exploration Ministry
Each semester we offer various programs designed to help students explore discipleship and life with Christ. The following represent a sampling of some of the programs to help you explore the Christian worldview and faith
Faith Exploration Ministry
Round Table Discussions
Round Table Discussions are conversations hosted by staff or faculty of LCC and provide an opportunity to explore a faith-related topic with a small group of other students. They create a safe space for deeper conversation around meaningful topics during a shared meal or coffee time.
Alpha
Alpha is an 8-week course that introduces participants to the basics of the Judeo-Christian faith. Each spring at LCC students are invited to participate each week by joining for dinner, a short film, and a discussion with their group. Alpha is a program that seeks to create an open space for discussion, disagreement and various opinions to be offered. Join us in the spring!
During your time in university, we want to encourage you to grow in faith as you pursue a life with Christ.
Discipleship Ministry
Bible Studies
Join a Bible study to engage the Word and learn more about God and His calling in our lives. Bible studies meet both on and off-campus and are led by students and faculty/staff members.
Student Leadership Opportunities
Grow in your faith by stepping into a leadership position. Each year the Campus Ministries office recruits student leaders – Worship Apprentices, Discipleship Assistants, and Interfaith Ambassadors. Campus Ministries provides training, support, and mentoring for these leaders.
Retreat Program
Retreats hosted by the Campus Ministries Department are a great way for all students to rest, engage the art of intentional reflection, and to seek spiritual renewal.
Pastoral Counseling & Spiritual Support
The chaplain and discipleship coordinator are always available to meet with individuals for prayer, spiritual support, and counsel. Please contact us at jaltena@lcc.lt or zdeboer@lcc.lt, or come by Defehr 22d to talk more and receive support as you ask questions and grow in faith. You can also fill out this form.
Serve
As you explore discipleship and grow in faith, we also want to empower students to find ways to serve God’s Kingdom on campus, in Klaipeda, and beyond.
Dialogue Ministry
Interfaith Program
The Interfaith Program is an opportunity for students of all faiths or of non-faith to discuss questions related to faith and the purpose of life. This program is lead by the Interfaith Ambassadors and includes film nights, scriptural reasoning sessions, and photovoice gatherings!
Worship Ministry
Weekly Chapel
Each week we gather with the LCC community for a service designed for rest, worship, and discovery. Join us on Fridays at 12:15 in Neufeld Auditorium.
If you’re a musician or singer and would like to try out for a worship team, please contact Zach (zdeboer@lcc.lt). Tryouts happen each semester in the first week of classes.
Worship Nights
Student-led worship nights are held weekly on Tuesday nights at 20:00 in Neumann Chapel. This is a wonderful space for connection with God and others and for a free expression of worship.
Relational Ministry
Mentoring Program
The mentoring program offers students the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a mentor for the semester to focus on their personal and spiritual growth. Applications for the mentoring program will be released in the first or second week of every semester!
Common Grounds
Common Grounds is the campus coffee shop and is a great space for relational engagement! Whether it is informal relationship building, meeting with staff, faculty or other students, or participating in formal events, Common Grounds is a relational hub of LCC’s campus.
Staff
“I love talking with students about what they believe and why”
Joel serves as the University Chaplain at LCC and creates opportunities for students to engage questions of belief and faith. He leads the interfaith program and mentors the Interfaith Ambassadors and leads the Round Table Dinner program. Joel is always willing and available to meet with students who have questions about anything, including spiritual/religious beliefs!
Joel Altena
University Chaplain
“I love hearing students’ stories and count it a privilege to be invited into spaces of shared relationship as we journey together.”
Zach serves as the Associate Chaplain at LCC and facilitates opportunities for students to grow in their faith in a variety of ways. Zach leads LCC’s discipleship program which offers student-led Bible studies, a retreat program, service opportunities, and a variety of other student-led ministry initiatives. Zach also helps oversee the Alpha program and offers students the opportunity to receive pastoral counseling or spiritual direction. Zach is passionate about mentoring and loves exploring questions of faith and life with students.
Zach DeBoer
Chaplain
Sean serves as the Campus Ministries Coordinator at LCC and facilitates opportunities for students to grow in their faith in a variety of ways. Sean leads LCC’s discipleship program which offers student-led Bible studies, a retreat program, service opportunities, and a variety of other student-led ministry initiatives. Sean also helps oversee the Alpha program, mentors students, provides pastoral care for students. He is a dynamic communicator and loves to interact with students from a variety of backgrounds.
Sean Ray
Associate Chaplain
Pastoral Counseling & Spiritual Support
If you would like to meet with Zach, Joel, or Sean for a time of processing, support, prayer, or pastoral counseling, please fill out this form. We will contact you about a time to get together to talk. We want to stress our availability to have conversations like these, and hope you will feel encouraged to reach out.
Apply to be a student leader during the Spring semester! Student leaders are hired for the following academic year. For specific questions, visit Leadership development program webpage.
Resources
The Campus Ministries Office provides a number of resources to help equip students for local involvement, spiritual development, and more! Below are a few resources: