By Beckett Rakes | Staff Writer
As a Baptist university, Baylor hosts a wide variety of campus ministries. However, while many focus their efforts on campus activities, some groups aim to reach people who may be less familiar with Christian doctrine.
KIV, short for Koinonia InterVarsity, is a campus ministry that extends its work beyond the university community.
Denver senior Michael Chung, one of KIV’s leaders, said the organization seeks to connect students with people and experiences outside their usual campus environment.
“KIV is a community of friends,” Chung said. “And our goal is to invite all people to belong, believe and become like Jesus at the end of the day. I think KIV is the greatest way to step out of what we call the Baylor bubble.“
Austin senior Zach Reitler also emphasized that the organization’s work is rooted in a shared religious purpose rather than its affiliation with a particular institution.
“Even though we are not a single institutional church, we are the body of Christ,” Reitler said. “We seek to just follow the gospel and to help each other become like Jesus.”
That mission takes KIV members beyond their usual meeting spaces. Although the group regularly gathers on Baylor’s campus, its outreach also brings students into the surrounding Waco community. Every other week, KIV visits My Brother’s Keeper, a homeless shelter operated by Mission Waco.
For students considering campus ministries, opportunities to participate in the surrounding community can be an important part of the experience. Arlington junior Whitley Brace said he values organizations that contribute to students’ lives both on and off campus.
“[It’s about] being able to be accessible to people, being able to be enriching student life on campus and off campus, as well as helping grow a foundation for a strong faith,” Brace said.
The ministry’s namesake, “Koinonia,” is a Greek word meaning “fellowship” or “sharing in common,” and reflects the ministry’s emphasis on building relationships rooted in faith. Reitler said an inclusive community and accessibility are central to KIV’s identity and help create an environment where members can encourage one another in their faith.
“We don’t want people to just have a social club, although it’s important to have a sense of belonging,” Reitler said. “We also want to have a community where we can build each other up and become like Christ through our various different programs.”
KIV provides several opportunities for students to get involved throughout the week. The organization holds a large group meeting at 7 p.m. on Fridays, along with smaller gatherings on other nights. Its relatively small membership also allows leaders to spend more time working individually with students.
Chung said this structure creates opportunities for more personal guidance, particularly as students navigate their faith.
“We’re a much smaller organization, but I mean, in the discipleship way, that gives us an advantage,” Chung said. “All the leaders can speak to experience of one-on-one apprenticeship sessions.”
Reitler said those individual relationships also allow members to address personal challenges and provide support when someone is struggling. He said leaders take an active role in helping members remain accountable to one another.
“If people have specific issues, like with a specific sin, they will typically talk with someone one-on-one,” Reitler said. “As leaders, we have the responsibility to look out for those we think are suffering.”
