Pastor brings ministry from Asia to Milledgeville
“Where are all the college students?” Lindsey said.
Since returning to Milledgeville from mission work in the Philippines, Lindsey believed God was speaking to him about starting a church. He would hear, “I’m going to give you a new home family.” Lindsey’s passion for starting a new church began with a message from God.
For three years, Lindsey commuted from Milledgeville to Asia for mission work every month. When at home in Milledgeville, Lindsey preached at a different church each Sunday but did not have a permanent position with any of the churches. He continued to hear God’s voice and although he was somewhat confused, he anxiously waited God’s plan to be revealed.
Lindsey, a 44-year-old GCSU graduate, was led to the ministry after working 12 years in the corporate world. He spent five years as a missionary in the Philippines. During his service in the Philippines, Lindsey developed friendships with local pastors and tribal people, but his time there was marred by tragedy. His friend Tony, a fellow missionary, was kidnapped by the rebels on an outer island on New Years Eve 2002. A last minute decision by Lindsey’s wife the morning of Tony’s abduction probably spared Lindsey a similar fate. Despite everything Lindsey endured, he continued to trust God and work in the ministry.
After meeting with students and people in Milledgeville, a foundation for a new church was created. Lindsey’s church opened its doors to the Milledgeville community in September 2008 at the Grove Apartments’ clubhouse. Lindsey wanted to create a church home for students where they could be encouraged by God’s love and equipped with ministry skills, empowering them to use those skills in their future corporate or ministerial lives. As Lindsey’s student outreach grew, a church staff was formed. After only a few months, Lindsey watched his vision unfold and grow into what is now called Campus Church.
Shannon Thompson arrived at Lindsey’s church in the Grove Apartments’ clubhouse on a Tuesday night in the fall of 2008. He was skeptical about whether this church would be any different from the other churches he had visited in Milledgeville.
“There’s not really a church college kids call their home,” Thompson said. “There’s a lack of program development that’s geared toward college students. There’s a lack of community in the college student crowd. You kind of go to a church and you kind of just get lost in the crowd. They care about you but they don’t, like they don’t really invest time in you.”
Lindsey listened intently to what Thompson had to say and wanted to apply it to his new church. His church would reach out to the community by having programs that help connect the students to the world around them by serving the people of Milledgeville. The atmosphere would be very casual, allowing the students to come just as they are. Lindsey would welcome them into a family away from home while at school.
Excited by the work that Lindsey was doing, Thompson decided to continue to visit the church. He is now a staff member for Campus Church.
Just six months after opening its doors, Campus Church has begun to reach more students with love. The church has gone from twelve foldout chairs to a sanctuary filled with individuals wanting to worship God. A big part of the success is due to Lindsey’s magnetic personality and his ability to attract the crowd.
“Anyone can walk in off the streets and Keith will greet them with open arms,” junior Kyle Whitmire said. “Keith has helped this church grow with outreaching because he’s just so cool. All the kids can relate to him.”
The all-volunteer student staff created different programs to give substance to the church’s motto, “Reach the Campus, Change the City, Touch the Nations.” A kid’s ministry was born, spending time with and loving on children in the projects. Short-term mission trips are beginning to take place in Campus Church, like an upcoming trip to Nicaragua.
After patiently waiting years to discern his specific mission, Lindsey has worked to actualize his vision of a student ministry.
“I’m really excited about where God has us after only six months,” Lindsey said.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 17 2009. Filed under Features.
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