Missouri Alum Returns to Alma Mater to Minister to Students, Brothers

By Heather Matthews, The Temple Managing Editor
One recent Phi Kappa Theta alumnus is giving back to his collegiate community at the University of Missouri, investing his time and talent to help students grow through spirituality. Austin Conner (Missouri Kappa Upsilon, 2007), works with Veritas, a Christian campus ministry at the university that provides Bible studies, retreats, social events, conferences and service opportunities for college students.

Conner spends his time building relationships with students, including Missouri Kappa Upsilon Chapter brothers, to “help them answer some of the tougher questions they face as college students,” he said. “It’s easy to go through college and think that you’re alone when you face some tough [spiritual] questions. I want to be there for them.”

He meets with students for coffee or lunch, as well as facilitates weekly group meetings. Veritas provides structured curriculum, more informal gatherings, and forums to discuss issues of interest, like politics. Through Veritas, which means “truth” in Latin, Conner seeks to live out the mission of Phi Kappa Theta serving “society, fraternity and God.”

“I want to help the guys look inside themselves and question why they do the things they do,” Conner said. “The brothers here are so involved on campus in so many ways – but I can help them look at why they do those things … to understand that there is something bigger, something outside themselves … to do things for the benefit of the campus and others, not just for yourself.”

While in college and afterward, he helped his brothers to deal with difficult issues in their life through God.

“Austin was constantly supportive and we met on almost a daily basis this past summer to encourage one another in our faith,” said Gavin Shelton (Missouri Kappa Upsilon, 2007). “He helped me become accountable to my faith and also helped educate me in God’s word.”

By getting involved in Phi Kap’s scholastic and service programs, Conner hopes to be a resource for the brothers.

“I want to be a familiar presence around the house, be someone the guys can feel comfortable coming to talk about anything, from spiritual issues to relationship problems or needing a tutor,” he said. “I want to help the service chairs in the house coordinate service events on a larger scale.”

It was through service work that Connor reconnected spiritually with God. As a junior in college he went on a mission trip to Harmons, Jamaica, a remote village of about 2,500 in a mountain valley, to help build houses, dig irrigation ditches and complete other tasks. He was “challenged to look at his own life and wrestled with the truths of Christianity,” he said.

“On this trip I realized that I was … well, broken. I was living a hypocritical life,” he said. “When I got to college I really thought I knew everything. I started to search for things that made me happy, like drinking, and then in my junior year I realized I was not fulfilled. I realized life is not about me and what I can get. My desires changed. Jamaica was really humbling.”

To work with Veritas full-time, Conner has been fundraising to help cover his living expenses. The church helps to fund his ministry work and housing. He has a goal to raise $2,000 per month of ministry work and has $1,000 per month raised so far. To help support brother Austin Conner financially, send a check made out to “The Crossing Church” with “Austin Connor support” in the memo line to: Veritas; 3615 Southland Dr.; Columbia, Missouri 65201.

You can also support his work by referring students at the University of Missouri to him at austin@thecrossingchurch.com