Behind the Ministry: Crosswalk

Pastor Andrew Pae has been attending Metro for 11 years and serving as Metro Church’s Director of Crosswalk (College Fellowship) for 6 years. College ministry is important to him because when he came to Metro just after graduating from college, he longed for a college ministry that taught the gospel the way Metro did. For him, being able to help build that kind of ministry across different campuses in Philadelphia is a wonderful privilege and joy.

“Our ministry is named Crosswalk because we believe the college years are a ‘crosswalk’ between two stages of life. [It is] a season when people begin to take greater ownership of their faith and transition into adulthood,” said Pastor Andrew.

In his free time, you can find Pastor Andrew dining at good restaurants with his friends. One fact that might surprise people is that one of his favorite movie genres is romantic comedies!

We asked Pastor Andrew a few questions to gain some perspective on the purpose and characteristics of the college ministry at Metro.

If you’re a college student in the Greater Philadelphia Area, click here for more information on how to get plugged in. If you’re interested in providing Sunday transportation for college students, please click here.

Q: What made you personally come to Metro? What made you stay?

A: “In a dark period of my life, one of the pastors at Metro, Brian, invited me to come and rest with the church community. When I came to Metro, not only did I hear the gospel preached clearly, but I also witnessed good, godly men who took the teaching seriously and applied it to their lives. Encouraged and inspired to learn more, I got plugged into the community, and eventually, Metro became my home.”

Q: What drew you to care for this specific population/demographic?

A: “At first, my role was to provide transportation for college students. I had no intention of joining the ministry. However, the more I got to know the students, the more I fell in love with the ministry, and I experienced the joy of serving.”

Q: Why is it important for the gospel to live on college campuses?

A: “The gospel is essential for college students because grasping its richness helps them build a firm foundation for the rest of their lives. Yet on many college campuses, the dominant values and cultural teachings are often antithetical to the gospel. Left to their own devices, students can graduate confused or unaware of the joy of knowing Christ personally.”

“The gospel is essential for college students because grasping its richness helps them build a firm foundation for the rest of their lives.”

Q: Why is going to church on Sundays important for college students?

A: “One of the most important things college students can do is get plugged into a local church. Parachurch organizations like Cru and InterVarsity offer valuable community on campus, but it is in the local church that students learn that their ultimate identity is in Christ, not in their campus or friends. Crosswalk exists to help connect students to Metro so they can become rooted in the life of the church.”

“...it is in the local church that students learn that their ultimate identity is in Christ, not in their campus or friends.”

Q: What is one thing you are most hopeful for in 2026?

A: “My hope for college students this year is that they will be plugged into our church so they might grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is (Eph. 3:18). This can certainly happen through our events, such as our Lock-In, but it’s more likely that consistent exposure to the proclamation of God's word on Sundays and consistent community group engagement will mature them in faith. Therefore, I long to see many join our congregation, grow in the love of God, and love for others.”