No. We initially meet seniors through existing campus ministries, but our work is with alumni after they’ve left college.

We work closely with a variety of campus ministries, local churches, and marketplace ministries, regardless of denomination or affiliation.

We do not have a membership program. We make personal introductions between alumni and mentors.

For Alumni Connect, that’s when our work starts! We do not offer discipling or mentorship before graduation (college seniors usually have some form of mentorship through their current campus ministry). Once the graduate relocates, Alumni Connect communicates primarily through phone conversations, emails, and texts until alumni connect with mentors in their new locations. As the local relationship increases, Gary and Joani’s input decreases. However, our mission is to get alumni established in a solid growing relationship with the Lord and a mentor in their new location.

We work with existing relational networks – personal, professional, ministry related, word-of-mouth – to recruit local volunteers committed to discipleship.

We personally introduce alumni to mentors in their new locations, knowing that this personal connection builds trust and stronger relationships.

We connect an alumni with an independent local seasoned believer in their area, regardless of affiliation or profession.

While we encourage peer friendships, our mentors are older Christians, empty nesters, and business people.

We focus exclusively on 1:1 discipleship, and do not have a membership or group approach to ministry.

Actually, about 99% of our work is with alumni who are part of the general workforce. Furthermore, we believe that these men and women are entering their “mission field” at their work, in churches, and in their social life. Our mentors affirm value to their new careers as genuine contributions to society and help bring clarity to diverse, God-given talents.

We encourage our alumni to ask their local mentor for suggestions, and we seek out help from business networks and other acquaintances in an alumni’s new location to help them get connected.

We believe everyday life provides enough content for discussion and maturity. We rely on the Bible as our main text for gaining perspective and giving advice in mentoring/discipling. Mentors and alumni set their own schedule and typically check in with each other between meetings through text or phone calls.

Gary and Joani have been serving collegiate alumni for over 30 years in a variety of real-world contexts. You can read more about them on the Who We Are page.

Currently, we have replicated our work in the Northeast and are looking toward replication in other parts of the United States.