Student Mobilization (StuMo) presents itself as a non-denominational Christian ministry aiming to help college students "know Jesus, grow in their faith, and help others do the same." While many participants have had meaningful relationships and personal growth through StuMo, an increasing number of former members, researchers, and Christian leaders have raised serious concerns about the organization’s methods, theology, and culture. These concerns range from spiritual manipulation and emotional control to cult-like group dynamics and financial exploitation.
1. Questionable Fundraising Practices (Support Raising)
StuMo staff and student missionaries are required to fundraise their entire salary by soliciting donations from friends, family, and churches. This model, known as support raising, is common in many evangelical organizations, but StuMo has been criticized for:
Aggressively encouraging support raising immediately after college, often targeting idealistic young adults with limited financial literacy or job experience.
Promoting fundraising during economic crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, when donors themselves were in financial distress.
Creating a system of dependency, where staff must maintain donor relationships to stay employed, making it difficult to voice dissent or leave the organization without significant financial instability.
Former staff have described being pressured into meeting quotas, fearing God’s disapproval or spiritual failure if they couldn’t raise enough money. This has led some to label the model as spiritually coercive and financially unsustainable.
2. Authoritarian Leadership and Group Control
StuMo has been accused of fostering an environment of top-down, high-control leadership, where questioning leaders or doctrine is discouraged. Former members have described:
A culture of fear and compliance, where challenging the organization’s vision is equated with disobedience to God.
Shaming tactics, especially around dating, modesty, and religious performance, that create anxiety and guilt in students.
Isolation from non-StuMo relationships, with a strong emphasis on building one’s "community" within the group while subtly devaluing outsiders, even Christian friends or family members not aligned with StuMo values.
This matches the behavior described in sociological studies of “high-demand religious groups,” particularly those focused on rapid expansion and rigid ideological conformity.
3. Theologically Narrow and Gender-Regressive Teachings
StuMo’s theology leans heavily into complementarianism, a belief that men and women have distinct, God-ordained roles. Critics argue that:
Women are often encouraged to take on passive, supportive roles, focusing on purity, submission, and homemaking.
Men are elevated as spiritual leaders, reinforcing traditional hierarchies that can sideline or silence women’s voices in ministry.
Sexuality is taught in binary, moralistic terms, with LGBTQ+ identities framed as inherently sinful, contributing to exclusion and harm.
Such teachings have caused long-term spiritual trauma in former members, especially women and queer individuals, some of whom report leaving Christianity altogether after their experience with StuMo.
4. Evangelism Over Relationships
StuMo places an intense emphasis on conversion-based evangelism, often at the expense of authentic relationships. Common tactics include:
Urging students to pursue friendships primarily for the purpose of evangelizing.
Promoting the idea that one’s value in the ministry is tied to how many people you "bring to Christ.”
Dehumanizing language—like referring to people as “the harvest”—that objectifies non-believers as conversion targets rather than holistic individuals.
This transactional approach to relationships has been described by ex-members as shallow, manipulative, and psychologically harmful.
5. Lack of Transparency and Oversight
Despite operating on millions of dollars in tax-exempt donations, StuMo lacks third-party oversight. As a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit, they are not legally required to disclose how funds are allocated. This raises ethical questions about:
Executive salaries, spending priorities, and whether support-raising money is used appropriately.
The absence of formal grievance procedures for abuse or misconduct within the organization.
No clear system of accountability to external theological or ethical standards beyond their internal leadership.
I will keep trying to find a way to spread this TRUTH about stumo and hopefully allow the students who are in it to get out so they can have a real and true relationship with God.
Two of our sons were part of Student Mobilization at K State University. God used Stumo to transform their lives in a wonderful way. We are deeply grateful for Student Mobilization.
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My wife and I have two sons who were part of Student Mobilization’s campus ministry while in college who are now on staff with Student Mobilization. They also each married a gal who was part of that amazing ministry. They and their wives had the privilege of being on staff with Student Mobilization for over 10 years. Student Mobilization is an amazing ministry, and it has been great for our sons and their wives to be on staff. Stumo provides exceptionally high quality, ongoing leadership development for their staff. They care deeply about each staff member and their kids (our grandkids!) It is a great organization to serve with. It’s an organization God is using to impact tens of thousands of lives. My wife and are so grateful our kids are part of it. And we are so thankful to be able to financially support them and others serving with Student Mobilization.
Ken
Incredible organization! I was a part of this group in college and joined staff full time overseas for 10 years after graduating. There are few orgs that value excellence as much as Stu does and they strive to be above reproach in all areas. They do an amazing job of caring for and developing their staff and recruit top notch individuals from campuses across the US. I am no longer on staff but continue to give to current staff members because i know there are few places I can invest my money and know 100% that is will be used to impact and make a huge difference in the lives of young people across the world. I highly recommend this org for others to get plugged in with, join as a full time staff, or to give financially!
I was involved with Student Mobilization (StuMo) for 4 years while in college and worked for StuMo overseas for 9 years after I graduated from college. I have only wonderful things to say about the ministry, leadership, and other staff members! Everyone I knew in my time with StuMo exhibited high character both personally and professionally. Staff members and leaders love God and are truly seeking to obey His Word and make a spiritual impact in the lives of people. As an employee, I felt that policies and procedures were fair and well-communicated. I personally fundraised my entire salary and there was total transparency with where each dollar went. I believe StuMo is one of the best of the best when it comes to Christian ministries making a difference in the lives of people and when it comes to ministry employers..
A wonderful ministry helping young college students grow in their faith and learn how to share their faith with their friends. I hope my future kids will be involved one day when they take to the college campus!
I had an incredible experience being involved with this organization in college and beyond. The staff is high quality with great character loving the mission they are involved in. This organization helped me grow in my faith in ways I didn't even know possible. I also met some of my best friends through Student Mobilization. Can't say enough good things about it!
Student Mobilization is a life-changing organization that God is using amongst college students all around the world! I’ve seen firsthand college students come into college looking for hope and a purpose and God has used StuMo to do just that. I’ve seen this organization show the utmost transparency, integrity, and love for 15 years! So proud of the things Student Mobilization is doing!
Great organization that is helping equip college students to have a deep walk with the Lord and share that faith with others. As someone who has been involved for 10 years, I respect the organization and how they seek to build laborers for the Kingdom of God by teaching and modeling what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ. Almost everyone I know in the organization has a heart to love and serve college students and is genuine in their pursuit of God. They really are trying to be doers of God's word. With every ministry, they have some of their own blind spots, but actively are trying to grow and get better year after year. I recommend this ministry, it is a great one!
My experience is as a parent whose daughter has been participating in Student Mobilization for 4 years. This organization is a 501c3 charity. This organizations business model is to recruits hundreds if not thousands of college young men and young women to solicit donations that are paid to Student Mobilization. According the Student Mobilization 990 Form funds are then granted to three other related 501c3 which are all post office box addresses in Conway, AR. In 2018 $2,652,094.00 was "granted" to Global Connection Holding Company, File No. 5984413, a FOR PROFIT Delaware corporation. My written request for financial statements of how this organization uses public donations has been met with silence. I advise anyone considering donating money to this organization, to request in writing financial statements for this company. I do not know how much of my donations to them ended up in their FOR PROFIT subsidiary.