When Coleman Barnes arrived on Creighton's campus as a freshman, he had one priority at the top of his list: find a gospel-centered community. He knew the people he surrounded himself with would shape the direction of his college years. "You can either grow and share your faith, or you can go off track," Coleman said. So when a new friend invited him to a City Group, he gladly accepted. It didn't take long for him to realize he had found exactly what he had been looking for. What Coleman didn't yet realize was that God was preparing to do far more than he could have asked or imagined.
“At City Group, I had people that loved Jesus and were fun to be around,” Coleman explained. “I was growing in my faith. It was also a space I could invite others into. At the end of that first year, Salt (Citylight’s college ministry) was looking for City Group leaders to launch more groups. One of the leaders asked me to think about it and discern. It felt like a way to create more community because I knew there were people on campus looking for it.”
Coleman started his sophomore year as a leader and launched a new City Group with another young man. Now there were two City Groups on Creighton’s campus. The next year, City Group numbers doubled. The year after, groups doubled again.
“My senior year, we saw so many young men and women find community,” Coleman shared. “Students wanting to find purpose to grow in their faith. College was a time I made my faith my own. Before graduating, I looked for someone to take over leading.”
Several years later, after Coleman and many of the students who had launched those first City Groups had graduated, freshman Parker Crouch stepped on campus. Raised by Christian parents and in a church that faithfully encouraged his walk with Christ, Parker came to Creighton hoping to find peers who would challenge and strengthen his faith.
“I was in a scholarship group,” Parker described. “That first week two sophomores in the group were going to Salt for the kickoff and invited me. I never stopped coming after that night. A month in, they announced from stage if you are a City Group leader to stand up and to find one of these people so you can join one. I didn’t even know about bible studies or small groups. One of the guys at Salt invited me to theirs and I went on that Monday night. I loved it. I met several of my best friends and I’m still in contact with them even though they graduated. The community is like that verse in Proverbs when it says, “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”"
Later in the year, a couple Salt leaders pointed out to Parker the leadership qualities they see and encouraged him to apply to lead a City Group. It was the best thing Parker has done for his faith and life. The past two years through leading a City Group with others, he has seen young men come together as best friends who confine and trust one another with sin and struggles, a willingness in students to step in and further God’s Kingdom plan on campus, and a joy to share Jesus with others.
“This fall we will have 21 leaders on Creighton’s campus,” Parker confessed with excitement. “It’s the Lord’s faithfulness and with prayer and the legacy of guys before me who have stepped into leadership here on campus. It’s a lot of faithful guys who show up every week. I have seen the Lord answer prayer! His word takes root in guy’s hearts who then get plugged in and follow Jesus. City Group and Salt have been one of the greatest blessings of my life. College has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has helped me to steward my time in an intentional way for the kingdom and has made college feel very purposeful. I am driven to not just do things to do them, but for the greater glory of God. City group gives me a way to do this. Don’t get me wrong... I have gone through some rough times in college. My City Group people have been my family and check up on me. They have given me a home here on campus.”
Last fall, incoming freshman Brody Page arrived at Creighton hoping to find where he belonged. Before moving to campus, he had prayed that God would surround him with the right people. Having grown up in a church and been shaped by faithful Christian friends, Brody knew he would need that same kind of community in college. While scrolling through Instagram, he came across Salt and filled out the online connection form. Just a few days later, Cameron, a Salt resident, reached out and invited Brody to an evening hangout.
“It was a bunch of guys playing spike ball and pool and hanging out,” Brody said. “I met Parker and Jonah and some other guys that night. I got connected to their City Group. One thing that stood out to me is their generosity. This group of guys are generous with their time, money, study help and driving me when I need a ride. And they are generous to each other.”
A month later, Brody attended Salt's Fall Retreat with 12 guys from his City Group. That weekend became a defining moment in his faith and for the City Group. For the first time, he witnessed men openly confessing their struggles, encouraging one another, and pursuing Christ with honesty and humility. It was unlike anything he had experienced before. Thinking back on the weekend, Brody described its lasting impact this way:
“We got deep, and shared testimonies and people came to know Jesus. Shout out to Jack and Andrew. It was powerful to bond with those guys. It took us a step further in our friendship and group and set the tone. You feel Jesus and see him and then you get to come back to campus equipped and faithful because we experienced and saw Jesus in that way. We want others to experience that. It keeps us going.”
After retreat, Salt leadership announced City Group leader applications. Brody knew he had to apply. Because of leaders like Parker, and the impact authentic community has had on him, he wanted to provide that for next year’s incoming freshman.
“I’m so grateful for Salt and for these guys,” Brody concluded. “Parker Crouch ... that dude has shown me to have no fear when talking to people. To be open with others and to be myself and to put yourself out there. I have seen people open up when I take the first move. Jesus works it all out. Having those accountability partners has been crucial for me. It makes me take major steps in growth especially with Jesus. You don’t know how much lighter of a burden it is to walk with Christ when you have people walking beside you. We are all growing and struggling the same and together.”
Brody ended the conversation on this,
“you have to trust Jesus to let it go and not be ashamed. When I have opened up to others, the weight and shame have left me. I am free. I make mistakes and it makes it easier to get back up and continue down the path.”
For me, no major revelation about becoming a leader. It's understanding what the people around me are telling me, my mentors affirming in me. Leadership is the next step and checking out my desires and leading others is a strength of mine. Called by Jesus. Great way for me to do what has been done to me. To pour into others, the freshman. So cool to make an impact."
Years ago, a handful of faithful students and Salt leaders stepped out with one simple desire: that others would come to know and follow Jesus and on Creighton's campus. Since then, God has faithfully answered that prayer. Through Salt City Groups, Creighton students have found freedom from loneliness, shame, and confusion while discovering the hope of the gospel and the joy of authentic community.
College is filled with competing voices and pressures, making it easy to drift without people who continually point you to Christ. In City Groups, students are encouraged to follow Jesus, stand firm in the truth, and run the race of faith together.
Looking back, Coleman and so many others now get to see what God was doing all along. He has done—and continues to do—far more than they could have asked or imagined.
Connect with Salt College Ministry >> citylightomaha.org/saltco