Landon Breeden: Homegrown Ministry
“He’s only a freshman?” is a phrase synonymous with a freshman phenom typically in the athletic realm. In the case of Bluefield University student Landon Breeden, it was a common phrase about his contributions to Campus Ministries when he enrolled at BU last fall.
Now a sophomore, Breeden, a homegrown student from Bluefield, Virginia, started his walk with Christ as a sophomore in high school.
“I was raised in the church,” he said. “My grandfather was a pastor, and my uncle was a pastor. I had always known that the Lord loved me and that his hand was on me, and then when I turned 15 I was wrecked by the Lord. I just started cleaning me out slowly but surely, and that is when I began my walk with the Lord.”
Breeden added that his walk has not been easy but worth it.
“I have been through periods where I thought, ‘is it even worth it’ and ‘is this all even real,'” Breeden said, and then I’ve had my moments where I feel like I’ve been on mountaintops, and God is just, I feel like I could reach out, and he’s just right there with me.”
Breeden said becoming a Christian is “the best choice that anyone could ever make.” In his valley, he remembers a sentiment his mother shared with him. She told him that even if God never did any good things throughout the remainder of our lives, the fact that he redeemed us and gave us salvation would be enough.
“I truly do believe that that is an anchor for the soul — (the fact that) you have a home with the Lord waiting for you,” Breeden said. “I know for myself, personally, that career-wise and relationship-wise, I feel like the Lord requires all of my time.”
Breeden is a Christian Studies major, and he said the professors in that program are preparing him for ministry. He described Dr. Shawn White, assistant professor of Christian studies, as “a very godly man.”
“Dr. White has given me more of a practical side of engaging in ministry,” Breeden said. “I think Dr. White is big on this, talking about how you can live it out in the ministry career full time.”
Breeden said he chose Bluefield University to pursue his Christian Studies degree because of an experience he had on campus while still in high school. Like many people in this small town, he had figured he would go away to college, but that was not the Lord’s plan.
“It’s been a humbling experience for me because people go through those phases where they’re like, I need to leave Bluefield, and there’s nothing good here, but that’s simply not the truth,” Breeden said. “There’s so much opportunity here, and there’s a lot of people that need to hear about God that don’t hear about him just in this local area.”
While still trying to decide between BU and Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN, Breeden attended an Elevate service on the Bluefield campus that solidified his decision.
“Mason (West, BU’s campus pastor) prayed with me,” Breeden said, “and at that moment I just I believe that (God) wanted me to be here. So Bluefield just kind of fell into place.”
West said he’s confident Breeden is at BU for a purpose.
“I remember begging him to come to Bluefield his senior year of high school because of his passion to grow, not only in ministry but as a servant,” West said. “I believe his impact has just begun with student ministry here on campus.”
Breeden joined the Campus Ministries team officially in the spring of his freshman year joining the volunteer team to help with setting up for services. Soon after, West invited him to be the male discipleship leader. Breeden recalls struggling with his decision to accept the leadership role.
“I wanted to make sure that it was what God wanted me to do,” he said.
Taylor Stilner, a Bluefield University alumna and longtime member of Campus Ministries, was a major mentor for Breeden’s quick transition to male discipleship leader. Breeden said she was a “big part in teaching me how the ropes worked.”
Breeden said he also depended on God in his approach to discipleship.
“God comes through,” he said. “If you don’t have anything to share with people, and you don’t really know what you’re going to say it, he’ll just give you one little thought, and it takes off from there. That’s been an encouragement, because it really helps me see that God loves me more than he loves the position that I’m in, and he cares more about my well being than performing well.”
Breeden said he’s excited about his sophomore year in Campus Ministries. The Campus Ministries them this year comes from Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
“I want to see people set free from fear, from addictions, lust, whatever it is,” he said. “I want to see people walk out free this year with the Lord, hand in hand with him.”
And while Breeden has already contributed much to Campus Ministries in just one year of service, West said he’s even more excited about the future because of Breeden’s heart for evangelism and seeing people come to know the Lord.
“I believe that by the time Landon is a senior we will be looking back and ahead on some beautiful things we see the Lord already transforming,” West said. “It’s a high privilege of mine in this season to be supporting Landon on his journey.”
Photos by Rampage writer/photographer Jaxon Bast.