The only minister on campus
George Koopmans works to make the church look beautiful to those who aren't Christian.
“I’m an atheist but…”
That’s how a lot of students start conversations with George Koopmans, a Resonate Global Mission partner campus minister at Medicine Hat College in Alberta.
Koopmans is not only the sole campus minister on Medicine Hat College’s campus – he’s the only spiritual leader from any faith on campus.
“Being the only campus ministry, the only chaplain, the only spiritual support person on campus gives us the opportunity – and the responsibility – to work with everybody from all faith backgrounds,” he said.
While the ministry provides a supportive faith community for students who are Christian, Koopmans also works with students who aren’t Christians but have questions about Jesus and the Bible, or students who practice another religion but are in need of support.
For those students, Koopmans says his job is to “make the church of Christ and Christ himself appear beautiful to them.”
Koopmans hands out food and hygiene products to students. Every week, he also makes and serves lunch to students in the interfaith center and hosts life groups where students can connect with and support one another over daily topics like study habits, missing home, managing stress and anxiety, and more.
“Whether they’re from a faith background or not, they’re forming connections,” said Koopmans.
“I’ve had students say, ‘these groups feels like family to me.’”Because Medicine Hat College is a community college where many students either take only a few classes, or graduate or transfer after a two-year program, Koopmans doesn’t always get as much time with students as he would like. But as the only ministry on campus, the Resonate partner campus ministry is making a big difference.
“I plant so many seeds during the year. I have so many conversations, so many times that I pray with students, so many opportunities to demonstrate the love of Christ,” said Koopmans. “And I just pray that those seeds that are planted, that the Holy Spirit gives life and growth.”
This page is made possible through a partnership with CRC Ministries within Canada.
