Trajectory College Ministry

Good Morning,

This is Jonathon Haney, the new College Director at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville. I wanted to touch base with other PCUSA churches in Florida to see if any students coming to Gainesville this year were interested in getting connected with our local college ministry, Trajectory. This ministry is aimed at serving undergrad and graduate students attending UF and Santa Fe Community College. Our church is fortunate enough to be within walking distance of UF and downtown Gainesville, which helps many students attend our worship services and events. We have a diverse student body right now, with students coming from the USA, Nigeria, Korea, and Hong Kong.

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I myself was a part of this ministry during my law school years at UF. I can say from first- hand experience that Trajectory was foundational for my own spiritual growth and search for Christian community as a student. The best friendships in my life were built in this ministry, and I would love for as many students as possible to have that same sort of community built upon our shared faith.

I’ve included a handout with our weekly schedule this Spring semester to give a feel for our ministry’s focus. We also do a ton of impromptu fellowship activities like hikes, sporting events, and larger trips throughout the year. We have a big focus on the holiday season, with an annual pumpkin carving contest, a friendsgiving dinner, and a white elephant gift exchange for Christmas. Our church provides opportunities for our students to get involved in worship through music performances, lay readings, and even leading an entire service for our annual College Sunday and Good Friday services. Our goal at Trajectory is not to simply be a college ministry adjacent to the Church but to incorporate our students into the church body as a whole. If you have any incoming students looking to get connected here in Gainesville with a local college ministry, feel free to give them my email or phone number. I’m excited about our plans for next semester and I would love for as many students as possible to be a part of them.

Best,

Jonathon Haney

Director of College Ministries

First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville

(386) 209-4570

college@1stpc.org