MOBILE, Ala. – Lives are being transformed this summer at the University of Mobile, where more than 2,400 middle to high school students are arriving for MFuge – week-long camps centered on missions, worship and spiritual growth.
Youth groups and leaders from 103 churches across 13 states are taking part in the summer camp program at UM operated by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Lifeway Christian Resources.
Dr. Charles Smith, president of the University of Mobile, said MFuge embodies the university’s mission to glorify God and serve others.
“When thousands of students gather on this campus to serve our city and grow in their faith, we are witnessing the next generation of Kingdom leaders in action,” Smith said. “It’s a powerful expression of what it means to live ‘For Christ & His Kingdom.’”
Last summer at UM, the impact was clear: 90 salvations, 66 recommitments to faith and 41 calls to ministry were recorded, according to Melina Baird, event coordinator for MFuge.
A Legacy of Ministry and Missions
The Southern Baptist Convention’s FUGE Camps youth ministry program started in 1979 and now includes two primary tracks: MFuge, which incorporates opportunities for service with worship and Bible study; and Centrifuge, which focuses on recreation, Bible study, worship and topical tracks. The University of Mobile has been hosting FUGE Camps since 1981. In 1996, UM became one of the first sites to host MFuge and today is the longest-running MFuge location in the nation.
The camps are held on 24 university campuses and 11 retreat/conference centers across the United States. At the University of Mobile, students and church youth group leaders get a taste of college life – living at Alabama’s #1 safest college campus with the #1 best dorms and enjoying campus amenities including sand volleyball courts, outdoor pool, disc golf and pickleball courts.
Serving the City Through Hands-on Ministry
MFuge introduces students to real-world ministry opportunities throughout the Mobile area. Campers choose from four types of service: painting, construction and yard work; children’s ministry; games and recreation; and social ministry sites such as soup kitchens, clothing closets and nursing home visits, among others. Children’s and recreation ministries are held in area parks and at organizations such as Boy’s & Girl’s Clubs. Each night, they gather in Ram Hall for worship.
“This summer during daily Bible study, students will learn about how to own their faith and not just ride the coattails of the parents’ faith,” said Joe Hicks, FUGE Camps manager. “Then in the afternoon, they will learn how to put this faith into action as they serve the greater Mobile community.
“Our desire is that FUGE Camps are truly a life-changing camp for all who attend this summer.”
Churches Return for Relationships and Impact
This year, church youth groups are coming to Mobile, Alabama, from as far away as Texas, Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina.
Baird said it’s common for churches to return year after year to the University of Mobile.
“We have multiple churches that come back to the University of Mobile each year based on the relationships they’ve established with ministry sites in the greater Mobile area,” Baird said.
Spiritual Growth that Lasts Beyond Camp
Campers aren’t the only ones impacted by the MFuge experience. Micah Steadham, a University of Mobile graduate, served as an MFuge staff member for three years at various sites. Now UM’s videographer and photographer, he reflected on seeing this summer’s first wave of campers and staff arrive.
“It brings back memories of how the Lord worked and what He did through FUGE Camps – in the lives of thousands of students and in my life,” Steadham said. “It brings a sense of joy to get to see these MFuge staffers experience what I experienced.
“My prayer for them is that they would come out of this summer with a deeper understanding and love for Jesus and for the Gospel and take that back home with them – to their churches, their communities and their everyday lives.”
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence “For Christ & His Kingdom.” With a vision to “Multiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World,” the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.
Learn more about the University of Mobile at umobile.edu/um-info. Plan a campus visit or register for a UM Day at umobile.edu/umday-info or call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.