The Chandler’s Roles at Ball State University

Evangelism Preaching the Gospel to all the nations is the heartbeat of our ministry and is one of my top priorities here at Ball State. What that looks like can vary from day to day. One day I may be in the dorms with a student reaching out to people on their floor until 1 or 2 a.m. Another day I may help out with a discussion group on a dorm floor or a Bible study. This is usually a diverse group of people who get together to talk about issues going on in the world today. As we talk and make connections we lead the discussion back to God and an opportunity for sharing the gospel. I am always meeting new students through our church service or midweek Bible studies and often have the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with them. I also coordinate big events on campus that are outreach focused. Our church usually has at least one or more events every semester that I am in charge of, like Quad Bash or Vertigo –events that target seekers and non-believers that wouldn’t normally show up at our Sunday service.

Discipleship
One of our primary roles is to make disciples of all the nations. Discipleship of young believers is what I am most passionate about and believe that God has called me to. It is a joy for me to come beside students to help them in their walks with the Lord and to be successful in ministry and every day life. I help lead two house church Bible studies every semester, coaching a student or young staff member in how to lead the Bible study and disciple young believers. I also disciple about seven people regularly, helping them keep God as their first love and counseling them through the hardships of life. Of the eight students that I focus on, I spend most of my time with three guys that have a strong passion for the gospel and growing in their ministry skills

Couple’s Ministry
One of the many ways that Leah and I enjoy ministering together is in the engaged couples’ ministry for the church. Leah and I have been helping prepare engaged students for marriage since 1996. It is a joy for us to share what we’ve experienced, seen and read about how to pursue a God-honoring marriage. We long to help couples have great marriages and premarital counseling is one way that God has used us to accomplish this.

Women’s Ministry
Though Leah’s main priority is to raise our kids for God’s glory, she also contributes to the women’s ministry of our church by helping plan events, leading small group bible studies, teaching seminars for women and counseling students one on one (as time allows). It is a joy for Leah to be able to love and serve these young women at such a crucial time in their lives.

Short Term Mission Trips
Leadership Training (LT)
Another major role that Leah and I have is helping to lead short term mission trips to various places in the U.S. for 10 weeks every summer. The students work at regular jobs, but also attend several teaching and worship times every week, as well as participating in outreaches to develop their evangelism skills. This is always an incredibly challenging, life-changing time for our students and is well worth the sacrifice of uprooting our family for the summer.

The Students here Memorized 2 Timothy for one of their summer challenges

Spring Break
Instead of the typical spring break fare, we offer week long mission trips to various Great Commission churches around the world. Turin, Italy is one of our favorite destinations, but we have also sent students to Guatemala and to Louisiana to help rebuild after the devastation of Katrina. We go to different Great Commission Churches all over the world to help in the community or teach at English clubs at the local universities. These service projects give us great opportunities to share the love of Christ with other cultures, bring the gospel to foreign lands and expose our students to international ministry.

Continuing Education
On-going education for their missionaries is something that GCM has always emphasized. I have taken several theological classes through Moody Bible Institute and Columbia International University, as well as Reformed Theological Seminary. Every summer classes are offered to help me develop my knowledge and skills as a minister of the gospel. Besides this formal training, we see continuing education as extremely valuable to our own personal faith and ministry. We stay abreast of the latest trends as well as keeping refreshed in the classic theologians. We are constantly reading and sharing insights with other Christian evangelical ministries in an effort to be united in Christ and offer the most to our students.

Joel & Leah

Joel, Leah, Lukas, Gabe, Joshua, & Hope Chandler *
904 W. Cowing Dr.* Muncie, IN 47303 * (765) 215-8467 *
joelc@revoweb.net