Utah and Idaho

By Karen L. Willoughby

MERIDIAN, Idaho – The leadership of collegiate ministries in UISBC doubled this summer with the arrival of Ben Sutton to lead in Utah, reported Executive Director Rob Lee during the two-state convention’s recent annual meeting.

Sutton joins Morgan Brendle in Idaho. She had covered both states after Ben Neiser left his role as Collegiate Network director in the Fall of 2024.

“It has always been our goal to split the role between the two states and have regional leadership,” Lee said. “This enables each leader to serve more strategically, focusing their work on partnerships with local churches and campuses.”

The co-directorship also will minimize travel expenses, Lee said.

Sutton leads Christian Challenge, a collegiate ministry through Risen Life Church. He also is college and young adult pastor at Risen Life Church. He anticipates graduating with a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky in December. His dissertation has a Mormonism, evangelism and New Testament book of Acts emphasis.

“Ben will remain full time with the campus and the church he is called to serve, but like Morgan in Idaho, he is looking forward to serving the state convention churches and college campuses in Utah,” Lee said.

Brendle’s report for the annual meeting included the story of a short-term missions volunteer who served in Mexico. “I got to see how other people got to live life in another part of the world,” the collegian wrote. “What we have different and what we have the same. I have gotten a taste for mission work and I want to serve more.

“Of course I love the traveling aspect of it but also to serve where I am now, within my town, my church, my circle of loved ones,” the student identified as “D” continued. “I feel such a great push to serve wherever I am, to love others, and to be more like Jesus.”

When Brendle talked of student summer missionaries coming to Utah and Idaho to serve for up to eight weeks, she said, “Through the years we’ve seen students come back to serve another summer or move after graduation to live in the community they came to love during their time serving.”

Several college students in Utah and Idaho this summer served locally, by helping at summer camps. Others traveled to serve in California and in Mexico.

“The fall semester is underway with move-in and classes starting,” Brendle reported. “The fall sees a big push in the different ministries to meet new students and connect them to the rhythms of the group dynamics from Bible studies to discipleship.

“Within collegiate ministries, the focus remains on sharing Jesus and equipping believers to share on their campus,” the now co-director in Idaho added. “College students continue to be mobilized to directly help with new church plants. … Their desire and eagerness to see others come to faith in Jesus is an encouraging benefit to any church to which they belong.”

At the present time there are four campus ministries, collegiate church plants, or church based ministries in Idaho and six in Utah. Both Brendle and Sutton are seeking campuses across their state and churches who want to begin ministry to those mission fields that have a heart to reach that demographic.

“I engage students and young adults with the gospel through tabling [casual but intentional conversations,] hosting mission teams, and outreach,” Sutton told UI Connections. “I equip believers in their faith by studying God’s word. To that end, I resource my students and young adults to know how they can bring the gospel to their coworkers, friends, and family members throughout their lives.

“The college and young adult age is one of the most strategic times to engage people with the gospel,” the new collegiate ministries co-director continued. “Thus, it is my hope that many college and young adults carry the gospel throughout Utah and to the ends of the earth!”

UISBC Executive Director Rob Lee started his ministry in Utah-Idaho in 1991 as “director of ministry to students.” He served in that role until 2009. 

“Collegiate Ministries focuses on reaching lost students with the gospel when they are making life decisions on their own for the first time,” Lee said. “It also disciples the future church leaders, pastors and corporate leaders in our churches and nation. It is reaching out to future leaders of nations throughout the world.”

100% of the collegiate ministry funding comes from our State Missions Offering. Without your gifts, we could not take the gospel to the campuses we serve. Thank you for prioritizing this important generation by equipping the saints for ministry to them.