The biggest challenge of college is figuring out how we fit into the world now that we’re on our own. At first, Joy Benton hesitated to step into ministry. The weight of anxiety, navigating friendships, and the overwhelming influence of social media kept her—and keeps many of the college students she now serves—from fully embracing God's call. As a campus minister with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Belmont University in Nashville, Joy walks alongside students wrestling with these challenges, offering a listening ear and sharing her own journey of how God’s invitation is one that leads us out of our comfort zones and onward into mission.

In this episode, they discuss… 

• How COVID shifted ministry and campus life (10:52 )
• Social anxiety in students (13:44 )
• Technology, social media, and mental health (20:09 )
• The challenges of trusting God (31:38 )
• Short-term missions and cross-cultural ministry (46:14 )

Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation encouraging or helpful, please share this episode with your friends and loved ones. Or please leave us a review—it really helps!

Referenced in this episode:

• Explore what God has in store for you with Serge’s Short-Term Trips and LEAP
• Share 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦-𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 with your church
• Bible reference: James 2:17

Credits: 

Our guest for this episode was Joy Benton, a campus minister with RUF at Belmont University. Joy graduated from Texas A&M and has worked in campus ministry for over 6 years. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Tim, and their golden retriever puppy, Gus. This episode was hosted by Jim Lovelady. Production by Evan Mader, Anna Madsen, and Grace Chang. Music by Tommy L. 

𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝑷𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 is produced by SERGE, an international missions agency that sends and cares for missionaries and develops gospel-centered programs and resources for ongoing spiritual renewal. Learn more and get involved at serge.org.

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