In the wisdom of God and the good thinking of men, Third Avenue was planted just two blocks from the University of Louisville, a school currently drawing around 20,000 students. From the school’s beginning in 1894, Third has had a burden for college students. This passion reaches into the current day as we seek to affect students with the powerful truth of the gospel. Our outreach and fellowship consists of various activities such as…

1) Teaching, which takes place through Christianity Matters classes on such diverse topics as Systematic Theology, Dating, and Islam; Sunday morning (and evening) preaching, being the pulse of our life together; and Wednesday night Bible study in which we interactively study a Bible passage,

3) Discipleship, in which members of the church pair with students for fellowship, instruction in the faith, and time for prayer,

3) Fellowship, as college students interact with one another and other members over meals, through game nights, or whatever informal ways it may take,

4) Evangelism, in which students and members work together as evangelistic opportunities are presented and organized by the Deacon of College Outreach.

The college ministry of Third blends the informal and formal. This mix is by design. Third believes strongly in organic church life. Programs have some use in our work with students, as they provide some structure and regularity, but much of the church’s involvement with students consists in the unscheduled moments of life: the post-church conversation that changes a major, the midweek meal that brings answers to tough questions, the Saturday afternoon basketball game that transforms members into teammates. It is in such moments that truth is lived out, love is forged, and community happens. In God’s kindness, we have had many such moments. We pray for many more.