Regent University’s Campus Ministries Kicks Off 2026-27 with New Leadership and an Academic Year Marked by Love

September 25, 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Sept. 25, 2026) — With the Fall 2026 semester in full swing, Regent University’s Campus Ministries department, led by a new Executive Director, is launching a new season of worship, discipleship, and outreach for students, faculty, and staff. From weekly services in Shaw Chapel to Community Groups meeting on and off campus, Campus Ministries invites the entire community to dive into a year of spiritual growth, authentic community, and living out the year’s guiding theme, “Called by Love.”

New Leadership, Same Ministry

Regent University began the academic year by welcoming Pastor Paul Lackie as Executive Director of Campus Ministries.

Lackie brings nearly 25 years of ministry experience, including two decades as Vice President of Frontline International, where he led teams, planned conferences and outreach events, and trained believers in leadership development and biblical spiritual gifts, both in the U.S. and abroad. In his new role, Lackie will oversee the university’s chapel services and worship life, train and mentor Campus Ministries staff and student leaders, and partner with local ministries to expand outreach opportunities for Regent students.

“What I’m excited about the most,” said Lackie, “is what I’ve seen in nations all over the world: people being introduced to the walk of the Holy Spirit, beginning to learn who they are, and beginning to understand that God has given them supernatural gifts that can affect them in the marketplace, in their families, and in their homes.”

“We believe Paul’s gifting and leadership will bring a fresh dimension to the spiritual life of our campus,” said Adam Williams, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students at Regent University.

Dedicating the Year and Regent’s Leaders to the Lord

The year began with Regent’s annual Convocation service, held on Sept. 2 in Shaw Chapel. During this time, each new faculty member, staff member, and student leader was anointed with oil, prayed over, and blessed by a member of university leadership as the Regent community dedicated the new academic year to God.

The keynote address was delivered by guest speaker Courtney McBath, D.Min., President of Virginia Christian College and CEO of Courtney McBath Leadership. Having previously served for 35 years as Senior Pastor of Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Va., McBath carries a history of pioneering initiatives to impact lives. He serves today as a mentor, coach, and consultant, helping individuals and organizations pursue purpose-driven, transformational leadership.

“I encourage staff, faculty, and especially our students,” said McBath, “to rise up today with a deep desire to learn everything that God wants to teach you — through the seasons of the pit, Potiphar’s house, and prison — so that you can arise to a place where there’s kingdom expansion, and God can use you in a way that you’ve never imagined.”

Creating Space for Students to Experience the Love of Christ

Each year, Campus Ministries builds its chapel programs, sermon series, and student leadership trainings around a central theme given by God. For the 2026-27 academic year, that theme is “Called by Love,” a phrase echoed everywhere across campus — even on T-shirts worn by the Campus Ministries team.

“The message is love, and it really is because so many people feel unloved,” said Lackie. “I’ve learned you can’t love other people until you learn to love yourself — when you look in the mirror, and you see someone created by God.”

The theme extends to Campus Ministries’ Community Groups, in which student leaders are trained to walk alongside their peers through the challenges of college life.

“There’s often a feeling of overwhelm, but teaching everyone, coming together, staying connected, praying with one another … it uplifts people and gives them the strength to make it,” said Lackie. “We want to raise up leaders who can help people see, understand, and support people who may be having a difficult time.”

Spiritual Growth Opportunities for Students

The heart of Campus Ministries at Regent is to prepare students, faculty, and staff for a transformative journey of spiritual growth and devotion to Christ, cultivating a thriving, faith-based community that empowers people to become Christian leaders to change the world. There are several ways for students to plug in:

University Chapel: Every Wednesday at noon, students, faculty, and staff are invited to gather for worship, prayer, Scripture, and spiritual encouragement.
UnChapel: Thursdays at 7 p.m., students gather in a relaxed environment specifically designed for undergraduate students that emphasizes extended worship, prayer, and preaching.
Community Groups: To foster authentic Christian community across campus, groups meet every Tuesday night at 8 p.m., providing students with a place to build friendships, study Scripture, pray together, and encourage one another.
Join a Team: Students can grow as leaders through the Discipleship Team’s Forerunner, Community Group Leader, and Team Leader tracks; the Worship Team; or chapel and event Serve Teams.
Missions & Outreach: Opportunities to serve locally and internationally through missions and outreach initiatives allow students to share the gospel and support their communities.

With love at the center of every initiative, Campus Ministries settles into the year with a simple focus: to give every student a safe space to worship, ask the hard questions, and grow in their identity as beloved.

“We’re not here by mistake,” said Lackie. “God can reset things, redo things, and set us on a different course instantly, because we love Him and we have to believe that He loves us that much. That love — from Him to us, and us to Him — it overflows to everyone else we meet.”

To learn more about Campus Ministries at Regent University, visit regent.edu/campusministries.

About Regent University

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with nearly 14,000 students studying on its 100-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online worldwide. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the No. 1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 14 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) and the No. 2 Top Military Friendly^® School in the nation (Military Friendly^® Schools, 2024-2025).

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