Engaging Young Adults: Theology Breakfast on Campus

This is part four in a series about Resonate Global Mission’s work engaging young adults in mission. Read part one, part two, and part three, and subscribe to CRC News to read future articles as they come out.

The quiet surrounded Calvin Neprud as he walked across campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). At 7:30 a.m. the campus was just beginning to stir—not many students were awake yet after a late night of homework and studying. But Neprud was up early that morning to attend a monthly Theology Breakfast.

Evan Tinklenberg, your Resonate-partner campus minister at UW-Madison, started Theology Breakfast to meet a few pressing needs he had noticed among students.

“Students don’t always have a clear idea of what they actually believe, and they sometimes struggle to discuss their faith with people who don’t share it – and to do so in a winsome and gracious way,” he said.

Throughout the semester, about five to seven students showed up each month to discuss basics of Christian theology while enjoying breakfast together. They explored topics like creation, Scripture, humanity, sin, redemption, church, and more.

“I thought the discussion was insightful and the community was solid,” shared Neprud, a senior student in computer science and history.

Neprud has been a part of the Geneva Campus Church at UW-Madison almost since starting school at the university. He has also led Bible studies on campus and is involved with Intervarsity as part of the worship band. He said he especially appreciated Theology Breakfast for the opportunity to talk about Christianity, the Bible, and his faith in a community guided by a pastor.

“It leaves the door open for a more in-depth discussion about topics we usually steer clear from in a typical interdenominational Christian Bible study,” he said. “It does so in an environment that is still comfortable for people with little exposure to Christianity, which I think is key. Having the guidance of a pastor in a campus discussion environment allows us to explore complex issues and questions in an approachable way.”

Neprud said that being a part of campus ministry has helped to transform his faith.

“It helped me mature as a person through communal accountability and gave me the tools to invite people into faith,” he said.

This year, Tinklenberg hopes that more people who are exploring the Christian faith will join their community for Theology Breakfast. He also wants to encourage students who are Christians to continue growing in faith.

“I want people to come with questions, to learn how to ask good questions, and to keep asking, seeking, and knocking in faith,” he said.