HBCU Link 2022
A conference that equips HBCU workers to lead ministries faithful to Jesus and tailor-made for black campuses.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Birmingham Theological Seminary
The goal.
The HBCU Link is conference that equips HBCU workers to lead ministries faithful to Jesus and tailor-made for black campuses. See our story below.
The plan.
The conference runs from November 10-12, Thursday-Saturday (with Sunday worship together optional).
Thursday, we’ll enjoy a firepit kickback together from 7pm onward as folks arrive to get to know each other. Snacks and drinks provided. Friday and Saturday will be rich days of worship and teaching with an excellent line up of teachers. See speakers below.
Optional Sunday worship together with Cyril preaching at the 9 and 10:30am services at Cola Pres.
The cost and what's included.
Registration is $50 which will include the event, meals from Friday breakfast to Saturday breakfast, and swag.
Guests are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. This hotel has rooms blocked off for our event at a discounted rate-before October 27.
Please register no later than October 10.
Elbert & Karen McGowan
Elbert McGowan is the senior pastor of Redeemer Church in Jackson, MS and an ordained teaching elder in the PCA. Karen McGowan is a pharmacist for Walgreens in Jackson, MS. Pastor McGowan and Dr. McGowan met during college and later reconnected. After dating long distance, they planned to be married. They prepared for a life together in Kentucky where Rev. McGowan then lived for work as an engineer, but God had other plans. After marrying in May, 2004, Pastor McGowan and Dr. McGowan relocated to Jackson to study at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). While there, Pastor McGowan joined and began working at Redeemer Church. Later, the McGowans founded a Reformed University Fellowship campus ministry at Jackson State University (JSU), the first RUF at an HBCU. Dr. McGowan began working as a pharmacist for Walgreens in Jackson, powerfully serving West Jackson and people all over the region. After Pastor McGowan graduated, he transitioned into full-time campus ministry at JSU. The McGowans ministered on Jackson State's campus from 2007-2015. When Rev. Mike Campbell (Redeemer Church’s founding pastor and Pastor McGowan’s mentor and friend) moved back to Miami in 2015, Rev. McGowan was called as senior pastor of Redeemer Church where he now pastors.
The McGowans have two children, Karis and Tripp. They live in Jackson and remain deeply in love with the city, its people, and what God is doing there.
Byron & Kim Johnson
Byron is from Cartersville, GA, and a graduate of the University of West Georgia. Kim is from Mobile, AL and a graduate of Troy University. They both came to faith in high school, but it was in college at their respective campuses that God used the local church and Campus Outreach (CO) to help mature them in their faith. They first met on a summer mission project in 1987 hosted by CO and were married in 1993. They have 5 children (Kelsey, James Byron II, Kaitlyn, Jordan, and Jonathan).
Currently, Byron is the Founder and Executive Director of VISION 9:38. VISION 9:38 exists to empower and equip ethnic minority missionaries to labor effectively in the harvest for a lifetime of Kingdom impact. Kim is the Director of Women’s Ministry at Reformed Theological Seminary-Atlanta (RTS-Atlanta). She is also a part-time student at RTS-Atlanta, pursuing a Master of Arts Biblical Studies. Prior to Byron starting VISION 9:38, he and Kim served as missionaries with Campus Outreach for 20 years. Both Kim and Byron have a heart for evangelism, discipleship, ministry, and missions. They have participated in many short-term mission projects all around the world.
Byron serves as a fundraising coach, mentor, networker, consultant, and counselor to and for minority missionaries and ministry workers. He functions as a consultant/advisor to various mission agencies. He holds a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. He serves on a few boards of directors for non-profits/ministries. He is an elder in his church. He’s an avid golfer and runner. Kim enjoys reading, baking, art, studying, and teaching the Scriptures.
Cyril & Jenell Chavis
Cyril Chavis, Jr. is the RUF pastor at Howard University (2019 - present). Jenell Chavis is the Content and Communications Assistant for African American Ministries where she helps develop and deliver material consistent with AAM's message, and she is the Director of Development for PEARSON Foundation, a faith-based non-profit organization that provides in-school mentoring, after-school tutoring, and a summer reading program for historically underserved communities in Pearl, MS. Mrs. Chavis is a 2010 and 2012 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi where she obtained a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Health degree respectively. From 2013 to 2018 Mrs. Chavis worked as an Analyst for a joint standing committee of the Mississippi Legislature. Pastor Chavis is a 2013 and 2017 graduate from the University of Virginia and Reformed Theological Seminary, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and a Master of Divinity respectively. Before pastoring RUF at Howard, which he founded, Rev. Chavis served RUF at Jackson State (2014-2019) as staff and then as campus pastor.
The Chavises have three kids: Aria ('17), Elise ('19), and Kyrie ('21). Cyril and Jenell are passionate about ministry on HBCU campuses, and when they are not at work in ministry, you can find them playing with their kids or laughing way too hard with friends and family.
The story.
The HBCU Link is a conference that equips HBCU workers to lead ministries faithful to Jesus and tailor-made for black campuses. We equip through fostering community, offering practical training, and connecting those interested in HBCU ministry work to new and exciting opportunities. We want to see a movement spread to all 101 historically black colleges and universities, a movement that inspires students to embrace the Christ, to enter the church, to engage the campus, and to execute their careers -- all to the glory of God.
Though our homebase is the black reformed Presbyterian tradition, this conference is for all traditions and backgrounds. Though the Link is focused on ministry to HBCU campuses, all ministry workers who are doing similar kinds of ministry will benefit from our conference! You are invited.
We had our first gathering November 2021, and what started out as plans for a training event for one HBCU campus quickly grew into a conference. We had participants from 5 different HBCU campuses along with participants from other campuses and local churches. HBCU workers were refreshed by each others' presence, sharpened through the sessions, and connected to further possibilities in ministry.
Given what we saw God do last year, we cannot be more excited about the HBCU Link 2022! We are extending the conference to two days, inviting more speakers, hosting additional celebrations/kickbacks, and adding another training track to cater to both newcomers and oldcomers.
You are sincerely and warmly invited to the HBCU Link 2022. We fully expect God to do above and beyond all that we can imagine, and we cannot wait to see you there.
"The HBCU link equipped me to be more confident and knowledgeable on how to reach students for Christ at my HBCU campus. I feel the training has motivated me to reconsider how I’ve thought about ministry. I left inspired, uplifted and directed on how to create a rich philosophy of ministry that is appropriate for my campus at Howard University."
Jason Francoeur, RUF Staff at Howard University
"The HBCU link was an opportunity to witness what Psalms 133 talks about: 'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.' Having a chance to meet and talk with other HBCU campus ministries gave priceless validation to my own struggles and successes in ministry to an HBCU campus. I can’t wait for the next HBCU Link!"
Marcus Nobles, RUF Campus Associate at Alabama A&M
"The 2021 HBCU Link was an encouraging and inspiring experience. The Link allowed us to learn more about the importance of our roles (as campus ministers and staff) at black institutions. The Link also allowed us to fellowship and network with other campus ministries. Overall, the time together was a sweet reminder of why the Lord has specifically called each of us to do what we are currently doing, so that we can glorify him by building laborers on the campus for the lost world. I'm super excited for the 2022 HBCU Link!”
Ty Williams, Campus Outreach Staff at Benedict College
“Ministry on an HBCU is unique and HBCU Link recognizes this uniqueness. It’s refreshing and encouraging to hear experienced HBCU campus ministry leaders and staff share how they navigate ministries in these spaces. I also really appreciated connecting and hearing from the men and women who attended. We all love Jesus, we all love our campuses, we all have specific cultural concerns and needs, and, ultimately, in many ways, we’re all in this together. HBCU Link realizes that there’s no reason to try and figure out ministry in these specific contexts alone. Creating this space for HBCU ministry leaders and staff will make all the difference as we go out to minister to our campuses.”
Jenell Chavis, Spouse, RUF at Howard University
"Campus ministry can feel lonely and isolating at times. The Link helped show me that I was not alone. I saw that Jesus is using many people just like me for the good of the church and His glory on HBCU campuses. This genuine fellowship, along with the biblical and practical teaching, powerfully aided me in my ministry."
Devin Coleman, Campus Outreach Staff at Benedict College
“The HBCU Link was an incredible experience! Being a first year staff person on an HBCU, it was helpful to engage with others doing the same work within the same context. I definitely left the retreat feeling more confident in my job.”
Joan Johnson, Campus Outreach Staff at North Carolina A&T