Battle Ready: Preparing Public University Students for Spiritual Warfare
On the weekend of September 11–13, public university and college students from around the state came together at Camp Au Sable to study the Bible and learn how to engage in spiritual warfare. At this Public Campus Ministries retreat, the students in attendance represented Lake Michigan College, Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College, Western Michigan University, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. These students, along with other young professionals in attendance, came together with the common goal of preparing for the spiritual battles that lie ahead in their respective spaces this academic year. Levi Longoria, our guest speaker from Hillsdale, Michigan, shared a series of eye-opening messages on this topic, and students from different campuses led out in worship sessions preceding each message.
“Battle Ready” was the theme of the retreat and the anchor of the Bible studies, beginning with a study on territorial warfare. On Friday night, Levi guided the students through several passages that revealed how spiritual beings are often referred to as kings of territories in which they have “jurisdiction” or “authority.” He concluded the evening with Matthew 28:18–20 and Acts 2:1–4, where Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit make a clear reclamation of what had become “lost territory” after the fall of man. Following the evening session, students were given a space to enjoy fellowship with one another around a fire, where they were able to connect with their long-distance friends during one of the few times they are together throughout the year.
The next morning, students gathered for a Sabbath School Bible study led by the director of our Public Campus Ministries department, Andrew Park. Students separated into groups and answered thought-provoking questions pulled from the InVerse Bible study guide. Throughout this study, students were encouraged to look thoughtfully at the closing scenes of Jesus’ life as He died on the cross, as well as His burial. They were invited to consider what it truly meant to be “Battle Ready” for Christ in their personal lives this school year.
For the divine service, Levi outlined the varying components of warfare, describing different methods and their respective uses. He explained that long-range weapons prepare for short-range attacks, but siege weapons are critical against strongholds, as they alone can allow other long-range and, consequently, short-range weapons to serve any significant purpose. Then, he introduced the most powerful weapon we have in spiritual warfare: the trebuchet. As Christians, our spiritual trebuchet—our siege weapon and primary source for accessing enemy territory—is prayer. Levi took students on a journey through the Bible where this weapon is clearly portrayed as breaking various types of strongholds. Students were challenged to identify the “stronghold” on their campus at which to target their spiritual trebuchets in order to reclaim it and to find their “two or three” with whom to pray.
Students transitioned outside for a peaceful Sabbath afternoon, where they painted their groups’ “shields” to represent themselves, their universities, and how they hoped to see God show up on their campuses this year. They split into groups and completed tasks that served as “battle prep” for the games to come. After dinner, students congregated in the auditorium once again for Levi’s Saturday night message. In this Bible study, Levi directed students to passages from Genesis through the New Testament that demonstrated how walking in a territory represented having rights or claiming dominion over that territory. This illustrated to students that it is crucial not only to pray for their campuses but also to walk through and pray within the walls of their campuses.
After the close of the Sabbath, university and college students split into groups to partake in some fun and friendly competition as they proved who was “battle ready.” Our administrative assistant, Brianna, led students through a series of games in the auditorium, with our other CAMPUS staff and Thaw, the youth pastor at the University Church in East Lansing, serving as “referees.” Though the games were held at the end of the night, students were glad to use them as a springboard for many new friendships and as a time to connect with old friends.
Sunday morning concluded the retreat with a unique format for the closing session. Levi Longoria guided the students as they engaged in meaningful prayer for Camp Au Sable, its staff, and its ministry. This prayer session provided the students with an experience they could carry with them to their individual campuses, laying the groundwork for the ministry that God will do through our public university and college students this school year.
The 2026 PCM Fall Retreat was yet another example of how the Lord is moving for and through our young adults. Not only are they willing to take time away from school for a spiritual retreat, but they are also committed to preparing themselves for a full year of ministry while pursuing their education. These are our modern-day missionaries; these are our last-day soldiers. May we continue praying for them, ministering to them, and discipling them as they fight innumerable battles for God on their campuses.
Gabrielle Umaña-Santacruz serves as the associate director for the Public Campus Ministries Department
