Our Mission
The WinShape College Program exists to glorify God by cultivating college students who will develop disciples, create community and launch leaders.
Our History
When Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy and his wife, Jeannette, stepped foot onto the Mountain Campus of Berry College over 40 years ago, Jeannette spoke these now famous words, “Truett, I feel like I’m standing on holy ground.”
They sensed God inviting them to use the property to invest in the lives of others, and their obedience would go on to impact thousands of people in the decades to come.
Our Program at Berry College
Located in Rome, Georgia, Berry College is home to 27,000 acres, about 2,000 students, and depending who you ask, an 8-to-1 deer to student ratio! Berry is a beautiful campus of forests, fields, lakes and hills, where students pursue a wide range of degrees in a private, liberal arts setting.
Within the rich sense of community Berry provides, WinShape students enjoy an intimate anchor of Christian community which sharpens them. This belonging stirs them to growth in their walk with the Lord, and toward impact on campus and in their lives. As part of WinShape, students go deep in small groups and are mentored 1-on-1 by a small group leader. They also have opportunities for fun, new experiences with WinShape’s large events and community gatherings.
Students arrive on their first day of college already in community with friends they met at WinShape orientation week the summer before their freshman year. From that point on, students in the Residential Community at Berry have fun together, encourage one other to abide with Christ, and help each other navigate and enjoy all that college life has to offer.
The Early Years (1984-2004)
In 1984, the Cathys launched the WinShape College Program in partnership with Berry College to “shape winners” out of young men and women who wanted to live in Christian community during their undergraduate years. The original program model was largely focused on cultivating leadership, mentorship and service opportunities for students.
Renewed Mission (2005-2014)
The College Program’s next chapter would continue to build upon its first 20 years of impact with a new vision—one that aimed to develop disciples, create community and launch leaders. These new focuses influenced the programming pathway, including the introduction of catalytic experiences designed to strengthen students’ connection with themselves, others and God.
Recent Years (2015-2024)
In 2015, a second offering of the WinShape College Program was launched. Originally called LifeCast—later renamed Discipleship Intensives—these events were aimed to partner with local churches and college ministries to equip and commission college-aged students to make disciples in their own communities.
In 2019, a set of expansion campus Residential Communities were launched with the vision of multiplying impact throughout the United States. The first cohort of schools—Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee; North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina; and the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida—began recruiting students in the fall of 2020 for a launch the following year. These four campuses served over 180 students in the 2023-24 academic year, launching confident leaders with a heart for discipleship out into the world.
In 2023, the WinShape College Program served nearly 1,000 college students and young adults through both programming models. Our four Residential Communities served over 200 students, and Discipleship Intensives served over 700 young adults across 11 different cities in the U.S.
2024 & Beyond
While we have grown and evolved our ministry models over the years, we’ve found ourselves asking how we can most deeply invest in the lives of students moving forward. As a result, we are returning to the original vision for WinShape College Program and partnering exclusively with Berry College to serve students through a Residential Community on that campus.
We’re thankful for all the students and ministry partners we’ve had the privilege to serve over the years, and we’re eager to pour into our Berry College Residential Community students in new ways in the years to come.
