CALIFORNIA, Pa., (BRN) – After a year of serving as a Baptist Resource Network (BRN) Next intern at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, alongside BRN Next Gen Consultant and Collegiate Missionary Eric Reiber, Rebekah Vaughn felt the Lord calling her to remain in Pennsylvania as a campus missionary — but not at Penn State.
“Throughout the past year, I was exploring leadership at a few different schools. After touring a few, PennWest California stood out to me,” said Vaughn.
Finding the California, Pennsylvania, campus familiar to her own college experience and noticing an obvious hunger for God’s Word and discipleship from the students — two areas Vaughn is most passionate about — she packed up her apartment in central PA and headed west.
PennWest California is a state school within the Pennsylvania Western University system that is located roughly an hour away from Pittsburgh. During the academic year, nearly 2,500 students call the campus home.
“PennWest [California] is a commuter-based school with a few popular majors, [which] strongly depend on clubs for community. I felt called to a university that practically made sense, and I knew I could integrate myself quickly,” said Vaughn.
At the California campus, Vaughn will oversee the New Life campus ministry there, which has been student-run since the end of the spring 2025 term. Previously, the campus ministry was run by Campus Missionary Kim Carson, who led New Life for 14 years before retiring in 2025.
Originally from North Carolina and a Virginia Tech (VT) grad, Vaughn initially connected with college ministry in Pennsylvania and the BRN when her Baptist Campus Ministry at VT partnered with Penn State’s New Life ministry for a spring break mission trip.
Feeling called to pursue college ministry in the north, she joined the Penn State New Life campus ministry team for a one-year stint in 2025.
As Vaughn begins her first semester with PennWest California’s New Life ministry, she hopes to instill a love for God’s Word into the students’ minds and hearts and help students grow in their walk with the Lord through one-on-one discipleship.
“Students encounter many struggles with hard questions and, even, worldly desires. The main solution to these questions is to understand and love what God’s Word says,” said Vaughn.
She continued: “Through one-on-one discipleship, I hope to create a culture of vulnerability and honesty that allows students to keep each other accountable and encouraged throughout their college experience.”
Additionally, Vaughn is passionate about students connecting to a local church and understanding the importance of Christian community.
“Church is essential to campus ministry. I try to inform my students that while I love what I do, campus ministry is not a church. I need BRN churches to come alongside campus ministries and encourage us to grow and outreach. Churches are also my support system; without a community in a church, I would not be able to do this long,” said Vaughn.
When she’s not on campus ministering to college students, Vaughn is an avid reader and movie consumer, noting that she loves every genre of book and movie, except for scary sagas. She is also nearly fluent in American Sign Language and has a huge heart for the Deaf community.
Vaughn holds a master’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in political science and ethics from Gardner Webb. She is also currently pursuing a Master of Theology degree in theology and apologetics at Gateway Seminary.
How to pray for Rebekah Vaughn:
- Pray for her first year at PennWest California and that she can integrate herself well and dive in deep with students.
- Pray that she can work with the New Life student leadership team well, since the students are accustomed to running the ministry
- Pray she can find a good church and community to keep her encouraged and accountable
- Pray for gospel opportunities and conversations with students at PennWest California
Rebekah Vaughn is serving as a campus missionary through the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in partnership with the BRN. Her primary financial support comes through support raising. Financially support Rebekah Vaughn and the college ministry she is doing at PennWest California by clicking here.
