As we look toward a new academic year, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to offer worship experiences unique to both San Diego State University and UC San Diego. Starting new rhythms of worship always brings a mixture of blessings, struggles, and excitement. We know that college life is full of competing demands, uncertain schedules, and students who are still searching for where they belong. Yet we also know that a small circle, gathered in prayer, can become

As a new academic year begins at San Diego State University, we are delighted to welcome back returning students and to greet those who are stepping onto campus for the this new season of their lives. Every new semester brings fresh opportunities to build friendships, ask meaningful questions, and discover places of belonging. This fall is especially significant for Agape San Diego as we begin our 75th year of campus ministry, celebrating generations of accompanying students

For us, participating in San Diego Pride is a joyful witness that God's love extends to every person. We began Pride Week with our summer sailing kickoff that reminded us that creation itself proclaims God's goodness. Out on the water, students, alumni, and friends found space to reconnect, laugh together, and experience the beauty of the world God has made. That spirit carried into the raising of the Pride flag at SDSU, where our campus community affirmed that faith and auth

This year’s Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin) Conference had me return to Rocky Mountain Synod where I was ordained and pastored for nine years. It is a joy to be with a hundred other campus ministers, where we share stories, affirm, encourage, support, and reenergize each other. More Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Methodists are joining LuMin every year because we are robust with quality events, resources, and connections all year. This time the Gather ELCA young

During the summer, stepping aboard a catamaran on Mission Bay offers a different kind of community than the one formed during the academic year. Without the deadlines, exams, and packed schedules of campus life, there is space to slow down, catch up on each other's lives, and simply enjoy being together. Conversations that might have been squeezed between classes can unfold over steady winds and calm waters, as students share stories from working at our beloved Camp Stevens,

Next year we turn 75! Celebrating milestones of ministry among college students is more than looking back with gratitude; it is an act of faith that remembers how God has been at work across generations. At both San Diego State University and University of California San Diego, decades of campus ministry have created spaces where students have wrestled honestly with belief, doubt, vocation, and belonging. Marking this kind of anniversary honors the quiet, often unseen work o

A wonderful part of my ministry is Spreading Agape with our partner congregations around the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. Sharing the blessings of our ministry with parishioners is truly a gift but the greatest gift is hearing their life stories and experiences with campus ministry. Here’s an excerpt from a conversation with a wonderful man at St. James, La Jolla. Parishioner: My time in campus ministry in the early 1950s shaped my life. More than anything, I remember f

For many students in the 1990s, college was a season of discovery that extended far beyond the classroom. They arrived on campus carrying questions about vocation, identity, relationships, and purpose, often far from home and navigating new freedoms and responsibilities. Within our faith community, they found a place where they could be fully known and fully welcomed. Weekly worship, late-night conversations, retreats, service projects, and shared meals created a foundation o

As the quarter comes to a close at UC San Diego, we find ourselves holding both deep gratitude and the bittersweet reality of farewell to this year. In our final gatherings, there were tears of profound thankfulness for a community where students could bring their whole selves and be met with welcome, respect, and care. Throughout the year, our shared space became a place of belonging, where questions of faith, purpose, identity, and hope could be explored honestly. For many

Reactions and Responses to Violence The Rev. Darin Johnson, Agape San Diego Campus Pastor and Executive Director On Monday two lost boys of San Diego attacked the Islamic Center, taking the lives of three men who instinctively put their own bodies between the attackers and the school children. At last night’s vigil, Imam Taha Hassane gathered about 5000 of us to nearby Lindbergh Park. His gracious welcome and prayerful leadership guided us transform this tragedy from pain and

This weekend at Camp Stevens with Agape felt like stepping into holy ground shaped by wind, stone, and ancient trees. The further we moved from the noise of campus and glowing screens, the more clearly I could hear the quiet invitation of God in the wilderness around us. Morning light filtered through the branches of old oak trees, painting the paths in shifting gold and green, while the cool mountain air carried the scent of earth and oaks. We shared meals, laughter, and lon

Returning to Camp Stevens for our annual Spring Retreat was a gift in every sense of the word. A dozen of us stepped away from the pace and pressure of campus life and into a space where conversation, prayer, and laughter came naturally. Throughout the weekend, we shared spiritual practices that invited reflection and rest, creating room to listen more deeply to one another and to God. Meals around the table, walks beneath the trees, and moments of quiet reminded us how meani

It was a genuine joy to spend time with The Rev. Beth Scriven, whose warmth and attentiveness were evident from the moment she arrived. As someone new to Bishop Susan’s staff, Beth brings both fresh perspective and a deep sense of vocation to her role, and that spirit was clear in every conversation. Even with the fancy title of Canon to the Ordinary for Leadership Development, her curiosity about our campus ministry at SDSU, paired with her thoughtful listening, created a s

The generosity shown through donations of professional clothing to students at San Diego State University has made a meaningful and lasting impact. For many students, access to appropriate attire can be a barrier to stepping confidently into interviews, internships, and early career opportunities. These gifts do more than fill closets—they restore dignity, build confidence, and open doors that might otherwise feel out of reach. Each donated item carries with it a quiet messag

Hosting a mocktail bar at the annual Polly Bond Awards, in St. Paul's Cathedral, on April 16, offered campus ministry students a meaningful, visible way to embody our unique brand of hospitality in action. Rather than simply attending, students became contributors—welcoming guests, sparking conversation, and creating a warm, inclusive environment that reflected the spirit of the church. A thoughtfully prepared mocktail bar signaled care for all attendees, including those who

Rev. Dave Nagler, Bishop of Pacifica Synod of the ELCA Greg Tuttle he/him Assisting Campus Minister Isaiah 58:12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. Monday of Holy Week, Agape students and leadership joined hundreds of believers from across several denominations in prayer and public witness as we continue to recognize then work t

Greg Tuttle he/him Assisting Campus Minister There’s a quiet thrill in uncovering the layers of rural history tucked into places like Ramona, where the landscape itself feels like a living archive. For students at both San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego, stepping beyond their campuses into a town like Ramona offers a chance to slow down and engage with a very different rhythm of history. For a year one of our student leaders has shared that, h

Do you remember the first time you had to dress for something that mattered professionally? It likely wasn’t about fashion. It probably wasn’t about looking impressive. If you’re like me, it was about walking into a room and hoping that you belonged there. I remember standing in front of a mirror, adjusting a shirt that didn’t quite fit right, wondering if anyone else could tell that I felt out of place. The clothes were just clothes, but they carried weight. They held the qu

(along with +Martin Luther+ as a silent partner) - 18 February 2026 Agape’s SDSU team marked Ash Wednesday with ashes to passers-by who accepted our open invitation on the lawn near South Campus Plaza. Simultaneously, Torrey, our greyhound, and I planted ourselves under the welcome sun by the fountain on Library Walk to offer the same at UC San Diego… No lunch, no drinks, no bean bags to rest on…just Presence…and ashes…lovably weird in context, I’d say–or “good wyrd” as Stuar

by The Rev. Darin Johnson, Agape Campus Pastor and Executive Director Bill Eadie supported, connected and guided the Agape community on and beyond our board of directors with kind wisdom and caring leadership on and off campus. So that you all can have a glimpse of a few ways that Bill advanced Agape’s mission of love, particularly at San Diego State University, I’d like to share a few reflections since Bill claimed his eternal home in God on 15 November 2025. I met Bill soon

Our Second Annual scavenger hunt was a blast, this year in our historic Gaslamp Quarter. Curated by Escapely , this activity brought students together from our two campuses on a beautiful San Diego day. Being out in the neighborhood during the scavenger hunt turned the entire city into a classroom filled with energy and possibility. As we moved from place to place, solving clues and completing challenges, we were not just exploring off campus—we were actively engaging with

A wonderful part of my work with Agape is reminding high school students that The Church loves them and their participation makes us better. During a recent time at Camp Stevens with The Diocesan Youth Retreat, I shared the blessings and struggles of their next steps and how a healthy young adult community will continue to support them as they leap into university life, trade school, or work. I like to think of this as our Continuum of Care. A continuum of care during the

Our work at UC San Diego is with The Center for Ethics and Spirituality (CES) and includes interfaith partners like Hillel UCSD, the Jewish Community Center near campus. This year we chose to combine forces for a community event celebrating Shrove Tuesday and Tu BiShvat. Shrove Tuesday is a Christian observance that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent, a time for reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter. Like it's cultural si