About Us
History of Campus Outreach Charlotte
Campus Outreach started in 1978 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. In the 40 years since, Campus Outreach has used a franchise model to grow and spread across the United States and the World.
In 1995, eight staff were commissioned and sent by First Presbyterian Church to Christ Covenant Church to begin CO Charlotte under the leadership of Neal & Jennifer Gooch. Ministry began at UNC Charlotte and UNC Greensboro.
Through the guidance of the Christ Covenant Church, God faithfully expanded Campus Outreach Charlotte to reach students at 11 campuses throughout North Carolina, including:
Davidson, Wingate, UNC-Charlotte, Elon, HPU, UNC-Greensboro, NC A&T, UNC-Chapel Hill, Campbell, ECU, and NCSU.
God has brought hundreds of college students to Himself and built them into laborers to reach the lost across the globe. Campus Outreach graduates are currently serving in communities and churches from Connecticut to Florida, and from Europe and Africa to Southeast Asia.
Our Vision
Glorifying God by Building Laborers on the Campus for the Lost World
Campus Outreach exists to equip students to be lifelong leaders in the church, for the Kingdom of God, within their unique spheres of influence.
Put simply, we are on mission with Christ to make disciples that make disciples.
Church Partnership
Campus Outreach Charlotte is under the oversight of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Matthews, NC and maintains inter-denominational partnerships with local churches near the campuses where we serve. Officers and lay members of Christ Covenant Church comprise our advisory board.
Our Distinctives
The Local Church
We are submitted to the authority and direction of the local church. Campus Outreach Charlotte has been partnered with Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church since 1995.
Pioneering Evangelism
We are focused on building friendships with non-Christians and sharing the gospel with them.
Life on Life Discipleship
We are committed to a life-on-life approach to discipleship, rather than relying on programs or curriculum.
Growth and Expansion
We are committed to being a multiplying movement that launches other CO franchises around the world.
Our Initiatives
Our current initiatives flow out of our vision and distinctives. They are shaped by where God has us as a movement and by where we believe He is calling us to go.
Multi-Ethnic Ministry
We believe that God has called us to build multiplying movements that are ethnically diverse. In order to do that we need to create better systems and structures to help minority students stay in the pipeline.
Leadership Development
We believe that God has called us to invest in the next generation of Kingdom leaders. In order to do that we need to retain staff in key leadership roles.
Regional Expansion
We believe that God has called us to launch CO franchises all over the world. In order to do that we need to keep seeing students come to Christ and discipled at each campus.