David Downs, superintendent of the East Ohio District, announced that Kent Church of the Nazarene in Kent, Ohio, has re-launched with a focus on ministering to the Kent State University community.

Kent Church of the Nazarene is across the street from Kent State University, a public university of more than 30,000 students. Under the direction of their new pastor, Charles Christian, Kent Church has launched Summit Campus Ministries, which will provide a Nazarene presence on the university's campus.  

Christian, his wife, Edna, and their two sons moved from Seattle, Washington, in March to lead the restart and to charter the campus ministry. Christian, who holds a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of South Africa, has been a Nazarene pastor for nearly 20 years and has been an adjunct professor for more than 12 years at various universities and seminaries.  

The twofold purpose of Summit Campus Ministries is to help Christian students, administrators, and faculty on the state campus to network together for the cause of Christ. Also, Summit will provide weekly discipleship and outreach to students of all backgrounds.  

The church has been invited already to be part of the Campus Ministries Organization at Kent State, and has made key connections among the administration of the university.  

Kent Church of the Nazarene will change its name to University Church of the Nazarene as of July 1. The ministry of Pastor Christian is currently being funded by a grant from the East Ohio District and a gift from the general church.  

Summit has been designated a "10 Percent Giving" project, and the East Ohio District set up a way in which outside funds may be designated to the Summit project through the district office.  

Summit also is part of the Nazarene Secular Campus Mission initiative launched in 2003 by the USA/Canada Mission/Evangelism Department (now USA/Canada Regional Office) of the Church of the Nazarene. More than 25 secular campuses are now part of this initiative, with Kent State University being the latest addition. 
--NCN News submissions