World Gospel Mission (WGM), one of the outreach ministries on Asbury University’s campus, recently reached a record-breaking attendance of 213 people for their Sunday night gathering, Global Café.
WGM is a mission organization spread throughout the world with a focus on holistic transformation. They focus on not only believing the good news they preach but also living it out by impacting people’s minds, bodies and souls.
One of the programs that WGM offers is Global Café. On Sunday nights, students are invited to have a cup of coffee, partake in worship, listen to a guest missionary speaker and enjoy a community meal.
Recently Global Café’s number have reached an all-time high compared to the last five years.
“Last year we were probably averaging about 90 to 100 students, and the first year I got here we were averaging about 60,” said James Ballard. “So we’ve seen kind of a steady increase in numbers throughout the years — I think that’s due to just the culture we’re creating here.”
WGM Cabinet President senior Yun Li Tan believes that the shift in attendance is due to the atmosphere that the leaders create, Ballard in particular.
“James is just an amazing person. You come in and he makes you feel welcome instantaneously,” said Tan. “It’s just a gift. He walks around on campus and goes into the student center and greets everybody. That kind of person just automatically attracts people to come. They want to see what he does and why he is the way he is.”
Whether it is the authentic culture that is being cultivated or Ballard greeting students, when you attend Global Café, you can experience the mission of WGM in action.
At a Sunday night gathering, you will see students from every corner of campus, from student athletes to residence life staff.
“I think it’s a cool thing that you get to see — students leading students and connecting with mission and connecting with the community and just all of all those things that come together. I think that’s what makes this special,” said Ballard.
“If we are still engaging with students, and we’re still helping them walk out the call, I could care less if we go back to 60 people on a Sunday night,” he continued. “But what I don’t want to happen is that we’re not helping students say yes to Jesus.”
WGM’s main goal is walking next to people in their journey with Christ. Whether that is through a fellowship meal or just saying hello in the Student Center, WGM is always making strides towards that goal no matter their attendance level.