The Collegiate Church Podcast

The Collegiate Church Network
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

The Collegiate Church Network Podcast is your go-to resource for campus ministry inspiration and insight. Hosted by Jay Bennet, Executive Director of the Collegiate Church Network, this podcast is designed for anyone passionate about making disciples of Jesus on college campuses. Whether you're a student, missionary, or pastor, you'll find encouragement and guidance to help you on your journey. Subscribe and stay connected to what God is doing on campuses nationwide!

  1. Jun 18

    Episode 25: Following Jesus When Certainty Feels Out of Reach (w/ Dr. Kyle Chase)

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kyle Chase, longtime campus missionary and pastor at New Life Church in Ann Arbor, to talk about faith, uncertainty, deconstruction, and the kind of discipleship college students need right now. Drawing from nearly two decades of ministry at the University of Michigan, Kyle explores why students are asking deeper questions, why certainty is often the wrong goal, and how honest wrestling can become a pathway toward Jesus rather than away from Him. Together, we discuss Open Table, a space for students from all kinds of faith backgrounds to bring hard questions about life, God, suffering, sexuality, Scripture, and culture. Kyle also shares insights from his doctoral work and upcoming book, Jesus Mysterium, inviting listeners to encounter Jesus not as a tidy answer to memorize, but as the living mystery who is both terrifying and beautiful, present with us in the wilderness, and faithful in the midst of our uncertainty. This conversation is for campus missionaries, pastors, small group leaders, and students who want to follow Jesus honestly in a world that often feels unstable. Kyle reminds us that the goal of discipleship is not to bubble-wrap students with easy answers, but to help them see their lives inside the larger story of Jesus, where suffering can become a song and uncertainty can become the very place where God speaks.  https://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    1h 3m

  2. Jun 2

    Episode 24: Sexual Integrity, Gospel Hope, and the Next Generation (w/ Nick Stumbo)

    In this episode, we sit down with Nick Stumbo, Executive Director of Pure Desire Ministries, for a candid and hope-filled conversation about sexual brokenness, shame, healing, and discipleship on the college campus. Nick shares his own story of struggling with pornography as a pastor, the pain it brought into his marriage, and the freedom he and his wife began to experience through counseling, honesty, community, and the deeper work of understanding what was beneath the behavior. Together, we explore why sexual formation matters for college students, how digital culture, pornography, AI, and hookup culture are shaping the next generation, and why the church has an opportunity to respond with clarity, compassion, and courage. Nick challenges campus leaders not to wait until students are in crisis, but to create cultures where biblical sexuality can be discussed openly, shame can be brought into the light, and students can discover that their bodies, stories, and desires are not beyond the redeeming work of God. For students, ministry leaders, and anyone who feels stuck in secrecy or disqualified by their past, this conversation offers a better word: you are not alone, healing is possible, and Jesus meets us with grace in the very places we are most afraid to bring into the light. https://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    1h 9m

  3. Apr 13

    Episode 23: Theology of Yes - What the Church Gets Wrong About Sex, Marriage, and Singleness (w/ Laurie Krieg)

    What does it look like to walk alongside a student wrestling with sexuality, identity, or shame, not with a list of rules, but with the love of Jesus? In this episode, we sit down with Laurie Krieg, Director of Parent Programs and Discipleship at the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, speaker, and co-author of the forthcoming Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Confused World (2026). Laurie opens up about her own story of experiencing same-sex attraction in college, the mentor who helped her feel the deeper needs beneath her desires, and what it actually means to move from chains to freedom. From there, the conversation covers practical and theological ground that every campus leader needs: what marriage, singleness, and sex are really for, why a theology of yes is more compelling than a theology of no, and how hospitality has been one of the most powerful tools in her ministry. We also talk about what students are really asking when they push back on faith, how to lead out of scars rather than open wounds, and why clarity of language with peaceful gospel confidence may be the most important thing leaders can bring to this generation. Whether you are a campus minister, a parent, or someone still working through your own story, this conversation is full of wisdom, honesty, and hope. Resources and Books Mentioned Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Confused World by Laurie and Matt Krieg (forthcoming 2026)Journey by Laurie Krieg (self-published soul care workbook, available on Amazon) — a gospel-centered discipleship resource for individuals, mentors, and groups wrestling with sexual brokennessLaurie and Matt's marriage book (available through their publisher)Whole In My Heart podcast, co-hosted by Laurie and Matt KriegCenter for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender — cfsg.orgA Praying Life by Paul Miller — Laurie's most recommended resource for transforming your prayer lifeEmotionally Healthy Spirituality podcast by Pete Scazzero — particularly the episode on "doing the work before the work"Gospel and Life podcast (Tim Keller) — specifically the sermon "Paul's Prayer for Experience" based on Ephesians 3:14-19The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield — cited as an influence on Laurie and Matt's practice of radical hospitalityhttps://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    58 min

  4. Mar 19

    Episode 22: The God Who Can Shoulder It - Faith, Identity, and Lament (w/ Brenna Blaine)

    Brenna Blaine is a contemporary theologian, bestselling author, and teacher whose life story is anything but a straight line. From a painful childhood marked by abuse and her parents' marital struggles, through years of wrestling with same-sex attraction, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, to a dramatic encounter with God on a YWAM base in Maui, Brenna's journey into faith and ministry is the kind that defies easy packaging. In this conversation, Brenna opens up about receiving a bipolar diagnosis in the middle of her ministry career, what it means to pursue spiritual maturity when symptoms do not disappear, and how the church has often failed students by treating emotional health as a threat to faith rather than a part of it. She also shares what it looks like to steward your story wisely, why lament belongs in our worship vocabulary, and how ancient spiritual practices are some of the most countercultural tools available to the next generation. Whether you are a student trying to make sense of your faith and your struggles, a campus minister walking alongside people in pain, or someone who just needs to hear that God is actually big enough for your real questions, this episode is for you. Books Mere Christianity by C.S. LewisThe Great Divorce by C.S. LewisBrenna's own book: Can I Say That?: How Unsafe Questions Lead Us to the Real Godhttps://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    1h 15m

  5. Mar 4

    Episode 21: AI, the Church, and the Next Generation (w/ JP Poulter)

    JP Poulter has spent nearly two decades at the intersection of technology, communication, and faith, from shaping global digital strategy at the LEGO Group to founding one of Europe's pioneering voice technology agencies. Now, as a fractional Head of AI and Innovation and founder of consultancy Three Point, JP is one of the clearest voices helping churches, ministries, and organizations navigate what he believes is the most transformative technology in human history. In this conversation, JP breaks down what AI actually is in plain terms, why the church tends to follow culture rather than lead it, and what campus missionaries need to rethink right now about how they're preparing students for an AI-shaped world. He also gets personal, sharing how campus ministry in London shaped his faith, why he thinks the church needs to be 100x more present online, and why Joshua 1:9 keeps coming back to him in this moment. This one is equal parts challenging and encouraging. If you work with college students or lead in any ministry context, you don't want to miss it. Website: https://www.jamespoulter.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespoulter Resources JP mentioned "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer: https://www.johnmarkcomer.com/books/the-ruthless-elimination-of-hurry"The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.comCenter for Humane Technology (Tristan Harris): https://www.humanetech.comGoogle DeepMind Podcast hosted by Hannah Fry: https://deepmind.google/discover/the-podcastRelevant Magazine/Podcast: https://relevantmagazine.comhttps://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    1h 9m

  6. Feb 19

    Episode 20: Engineers of the Kingdom - Calling, Staying, and Serving (w/ Nick Modrzejewski & Kyle Kloepper)

    Recorded live at the Collegiate Conference in Champaign, Illinois, this conversation features two IlliniLife leaders with very different work lives and the same deep commitment to the local church and campus mission field. Nick Majeski came to the University of Illinois to become an engineer, then sensed God’s call toward vocational ministry, but not immediately. After graduation, he spent five years working as a network engineer on campus, discipling students from the inside, before turning down a major salary jump to join staff. Along the way, God used unlikely doors, persistent mentors, and even a triathlon to shape his calling and widen his reach. Kyle Kloepper followed a different path: full-time engineer, full-time church member. He shares why he stayed rooted in Champaign even as bigger markets tried to pull him away, how God provided work at key moments, and why the church needs committed professionals who view ministry as non-negotiable, not optional. Together, Nick and Kyle talk about discipleship that lasts decades, the power of calling people to stay, the tension of money vs. obedience, and what they’d say to students and missionaries making decisions right now. If you’ve ever wondered what faithfulness can look like after graduation, this episode is a clear, steady invitation: pour your life out for Christ, wherever you are, and trust that God can do more than you can see. https://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    39 min

  7. 09/06/2025

    Episode 19: Evangelism as Everyday Obedience (w/ Miriam Swanson)

    What does it look like when the local church takes responsibility for reaching the university campus? In this episode, Jay sits down with Miriam Swanson, evangelist, speaker, and National Director of Fusion USA. Miriam shares her journey from a student at the University of York to championing the role of the church in discipling college students across continents. With stories ranging from choosing a church based on where her non-Christian friends might feel welcome to moving into overlooked neighborhoods as an act of obedience, Miriam’s life reflects a contagious passion for Jesus and the next generation. Together, they explore evangelism, discipleship, and the surprising ways God is moving among Gen Z both in Europe and the U.S. https://www.fusionusa.org/  https://www.instagram.com/hellofusionusa/ https://www.fusionmovement.org/resources/product/howtomakedisciples https://relate.younglife.org/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKPWqTllHh0  https://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    1h 7m

  8. 08/13/2025

    Episode 18: Evangelism That Meets Students Where They Are (w/ Kristal Poff)

    In this episode, Kristal Poff, pastor at New Life Christian Fellowship at Virginia Tech and co-director of the Adirondack Leadership Training Program, shares her 17-year journey in campus ministry—a story marked by God’s faithfulness through deep loss, unexpected callings, and a lifelong passion for evangelism. Kristal reflects on how formative relationships, personal grief, and a community that embodied the love of Christ shaped her vision for ministry. She offers practical insights on building trust, adapting evangelism methods for changing cultures, and helping students feel truly known and loved as a foundation for the gospel. Along the way, she tells powerful stories of transformation, shares her go-to scriptures, and explains why slowing down to walk with people is essential for long-term fruit. Whether you’re a seasoned campus minister or just starting out, Kristal’s wisdom will inspire you to lift your eyes, stay present, and keep at it—because Jesus is still changing lives on campus. https://www.collegiate.church/podcast https://www.instagram.com/collegiate.church/

    56 min
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About

The Collegiate Church Network Podcast is your go-to resource for campus ministry inspiration and insight. Hosted by Jay Bennet, Executive Director of the Collegiate Church Network, this podcast is designed for anyone passionate about making disciples of Jesus on college campuses. Whether you're a student, missionary, or pastor, you'll find encouragement and guidance to help you on your journey. Subscribe and stay connected to what God is doing on campuses nationwide!

Information

  • Creator
    The Collegiate Church Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Collegiate Church Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Collegiate Church Podcast