Joe Ball, director of discipleship and ministry at Union University, spends his days ministering to and meeting the needs of students on Union’s campus. Whether he is in his office, in the student cafeteria or in the university chapel, he will almost always be surrounded by students of all ages. They are simply drawn to him, and they are drawn to what Ball does best – discipleship.
Ball established his roots in student ministry while serving as youth pastor for several years at West Jackson Baptist Church. He joined Union’s staff two years ago. He says that the last two years at Union after being in youth ministry have been a “fun transition.”
When asked what it is like to be ministering to Union students who were once part of his youth ministry, he says that most of them enjoy the fact that he is on the college campus with them.
“It’s been great having the opportunity to continue investing in them, while also having the chance to meet so many great students at Union,” Ball said.
When asked about the impact he is making at Union, Ball states that while he doesn’t really consider himself a spiritual leader on campus, he does hope to encourage students to be spiritual leaders in their own organizations and circles of friends.
Ball has certainly done his share of encouraging students to be spiritual leaders. Chandler Haynes, junior Christian studies major, is a former member of Ball’s West Jackson youth ministry. He is now serving as the youth intern to the current West Jackson youth pastor. When asked what kind of impact Ball made on his life, Haynes described how Ball took him under his wing and taught him to be a disciple and how to care for others.
“He taught me that you’ll never regret meeting the needs of people around you and that following Jesus is something you’ll never wish you hadn’t done well,” said Haynes.
Ball hopes that any impact he is making on students at Union will lead them to stand firm in their faith in a culture that really makes that difficult for young adults. He also hopes that they will see the importance of being in God’s Word. These things, according to Ball, would lead to big change on Union’s campus. Ball feels strongly about his opportunity to be at Union and has great faith in his students.
“It amazes me that our students will literally take the Gospel to the nations, and that I’ve been given the opportunity to walk with so many of them during their college years,” said Ball.
Photo courtesy of Landon Todd
