Our Beliefs

CSF has been built on these foundational truths: the glory of God, because of the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, and our lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. These will not ever change, how CSF manifests these convictions on campus over the next year, or 10, or 50 will change! As we become known as a healthy community equipping students for life-change, the strategies and tactics will be shaped by the following mission and corresponding values.

Christian Student Fellowship exists as a Christ-Centered community to help college students truly know Jesus.

  • This is why CSF exists, but what does this mean for you? Well, the goal of our ministry is not to try and force you to love and follow Jesus, rather, our goal is to introduce (or reintroduce) you to who He truly is.

    So many people know things about Jesus, but a much small group of people truly know him. We believe that as you get know Him for who He truly is, His invitation to follow Him will be more and more compelling to you.

    As such, our ministry does everything for the glory of God and to elevate Jesus Christ. From preaching to worship to small groups, our goal is to illustrate the true character of Jesus to the students that pass through our ministry.

Our Values

  • We believe that the Bible is an inherent, God-breathed story that leads us back to Jesus. As such, we teach through the Bible, drawing out the original meaning and applying it to our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16)

  • Before the earth was created, God was in community with Himself within the Trinity. Because God created mankind in His image, we desire community. Christians need each other, and we want to provide opportunities for community to happen! (Psalm 133:1, Acts 2:44-47)

  • As Christians, we have been blessed with a relationship with God our father and have been made right with Him for all eternity. Therefore, we believe that it is crucial to show that love and blessing to the world through mission trips and service events. (Galatians 6:2, Matthew 25:31-44, Proverbs 19:17)

  • While we don't claim to have all the answers, we invite the tough questions about life. Life is not a straight line with black and white answers for every question, but we want to walk through the tension with you. (Jeremiah 6:16, Matthew 7:7-8)

  • College is a transient place, and in 5 years, our ministry will look vastly different (we'll miss you all for sure). At CSF we want to help you pursue your faith and build your community in college, but we also want to prepare you for the world after college. We do this through discipleship and mentorship. (Matthew 28:18-20)

For a more detailed breakdown of our beliefs, follow the link below to view our House Covenant.

Our History

Christian Student Fellowship has its roots in a weekly Bible Study led by CW and Lois Calaway, missionaries taking classes at Indiana University. Wayne Shaw and Bill Morehouse would sponsor and pass off the “Cadre Club” to a PhD student, Gary Weedman, and Beth Snead. Thursday nights, in the top of the IMU, the Bryan Room would host college students hungry to hear and discuss Scripture.

God moved in the hearts of those students and provided mentorship from Doug Dickey, a WWII military chaplain and campus ministry leader at Purdue. Under the care of Dickey and help of Ard Hoven from First Christian, Columbus, IN, a steering committee convened and Indiana University Campus Christian Ministry was incorporated… in a 1967 winter blizzard. Students began to travel through the state seeking support for the young ministry telling the stories of God at work on campus.

After calling Jack Haun as campus minister (1968-1976), the next issue was finding a facility. God provided a connection with Northside Christian Church and Rev.  Doug Davis. With that strategic partnership and the selling of bonds to finance, an initial house on 707 8th Street was purchased and shared. A few years later, there was a women’s house added. Soon, CSF was able to purchase a second house, 713 8th Street. During this time, Sunday services were held in the Bryan Room of the Union Building and at times Beck Chapel. Diana Minnick was brought on staff, then Ward Patterson was called to be ministry director (1976-1991).

Ward Patterson was with CSF for 25 years after traveling the globe for years. Author of numerous books and articles from scholastic to poetry and satire, professor and guest lecturer at Indiana University and Cincinnati Christian, pastor and friend to all, Patterson is best remembered as humble, gentle and generous. An anecdote to demonstrate his love for all people: while always up for adventures with students, a world-renowned archeological artist, Patterson preached weekly in northern-KY at a church of 5 people.  From the tombs of Egypt, to the tattooist living among the Head Hunters in Borneo, from the Sherpa villages in the Himalayas, to touring Asia by motorcycle, this native Ohioan is remembered well within the legacy of Christian Student Fellowship. Ward Patterson was a grace-filled image-bearer of Jesus and we stand on his shoulders.

Because of its outreach in registration, special concerts, a deepening and continued commitment to the house ministry and presence on campus, Christian Student Fellowship was blessed and grew. Placing students into leadership roles, motivating service toward the campus and community, and calling each other to bring others to Christ, the beginnings of CSF were alive in the Spirit.

As we grew, our need for housing increased and because of an extremely generous donation in 2000, we were able to buy our current house on what is now David Baker Avenue. This house required lots of renovation, but it now functions as a home on campus where most of our events are held, and where students feel like they belong in community.

After 55 years of ministry, we've learned a lot and we're ready for the next 55 years. Wanna join us?