Encounter: A Profile of Campus Ministry at Illinois State University

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the results of an ethnographic project about how encounter, a religious student organization, generates meaningful and sustainable community for students at Illinois State University. By way of participant observation at numerous encounter events, including worship, small groups, leadership meetings and social functions, as well as interviews with three staff members, two student leaders, and two student participants not on the leadership team, I show that encounter has a unique ability to meet the needs of Christian students because of its flexible yet durable leadership structure, its focus on building relationships as a primary goal, and its tendency to produce broad student networks which extend beyond the formal organization itself. Based on these preliminary findings, I argue that student religious groups in general demand more attention than they are currently receiving from researchers and the university administration. I also recommend that Illinois State University make a concentrated effort to establish ongoing relationships with all registered student organizations, so as to better promote successful student networking opportunities and improve communication with those organizations which shape the lies of many students on campus.