Campus Ministry Stories—
Heather
and Danielle are two of the girls from our basketball team. In recent
years we have been fortunate to get to know the basketball teams
better. This started through our lunch program. This year basketball
students have attended other events including our spring banquet and a
senior dessert fellowship. Most recently,
Heather has been hanging out on a regular basis with some of our
students and came to the house to watch a movie with us. Heather is a
Christian but has been in a rough environment for the past two years.
She has attended
Laura Cates, a student who has been involved with us for four years and recently graduated from Lee, has always had a heart for the Spanish speaking community. Laura has gotten to know most of the workers at the local Mexican restaurants. This summer after graduating from college, Laura has made the unlikely move of getting a job at one of those restaurants in order to continue getting to know everyone better. One of her friends from work will be starting Lee in the fall. This young man is not a Christian but has been around our group for the past two years as a result of Laura’s efforts. Her enthusiasm has filtered through the rest of our group and her friend is now one of us. Fitz, one of our co-presidents for Lee next year, has become somewhat of a big brother to this young man. We have all the confidence in the world that God is working in this situation and that it will not be long before he becomes a part of our family in the greater sense…by coming to know Christ personally.
We
have begun separate Bible studies last year dividing out ladies and
men. We still have large group, but this has individualized the
students and they seem to really enjoy having their separate times. I
have a young lady who is recently married who disciples our ladies and
they have bonded with her. They contact her during the week even when
studies are not going on.
Derek,
one of our summer missionaries who went to Peru last year has gone
again this summer. He enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to return. He says
he feels more at home there than in the states and it is easier for him
to share about Christ there. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t
become full-time.
Middle Tennessee State University
Intramural outreach:
Intramurals on our campus is one of our best ways to meet new students and build relationships! This year we challenged our students to invite their friends who don’t know Christ to play on our teams with us. Our student captains were committed to displaying a Christlike attitude on and off the field. At each practice, a student leader would share a 2 minute devotional. For games, we provide water or hot cocoa for anyone out there with us including the opposing team, officials, and spectators.
Noonday goes outdoors:
Our best campus outreach this year involved taking our Noonday Lunch ministry to our front lawn. Three
times this year we set up Noonday outdoors with tables, chairs, live
music by a student band, and free gumbo/ chili! Each time, we had BCM
students serve the food and meet and greet new students for the purpose
of building relationships. It was a hit! Our students loved doing this and we met so many students that simply had never been inside our building.
East Tennessee State University
Jake Dorak is an alumni of the ETSU BCM where I serve as campus minister. He has recently begun working as youth and college minister at West Colonial Hills Baptist church in Kingsport TN. In addition to his church responsibilities Jake began a ministry with college students at Northeast State Community College. I am proud to say that during this summer I will be working with Jake in a program to “Launch” students from their summer experiences toward their school year with a sense of anticipation of how God can to use them in the coming year.
University of Tennessee--Chattanooga
December Mission Trip: During Christmas Break 20+ students participated in a mission experience in New Orleans. Partnering
with the Mission Lab of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,
students were involved in a variety of ministry opportunities:
- construction/re-hab of a flood damaged home. This was done in partnership with a Baptist church from Michigan.
- assistance with a "halfway house" for AID's patients.
- assistance
with a New Orleans homeless shelter and soup kitchen
- Christmas party
for residents of a Catholic Charities adolescent emergency placement
facility
University of Tennessee—Knoxville
One
of our students tragically died at the end of Fall Semester. Because of
the incredible testimony of his life, the gospel has been shared with
literally hundreds. Memorial services have lead to partnership and
joint programming between our ministry and the University’s College of
Music. Over ten thousand dollars has been received in the student’s
honor designated for our building and remodeling project. A memorial
scholarship is being established to help needy students in future
generations. Out of Marc’s death has come the birth of abundant
spiritual life.
University of Tennessee—Health/Science Center
The Wellness Clinic at International Baptist Church, Memphis, provided students with opportunities to use their healthcare skills and training in the context of mission, ministry and evangelism. Students and healthcare professionals took patients’ health history, checked vital signs, vision test, gave dental exam, and physical exam. The clinic concluded with a spiritual assessment that afforded opportunities for Christian witness.
At least 16 UTHSC BCM students are participating in short term international medical/dental mission projects this summer in Dominican Republic, Philippines, El Salvador, Brazil, Romania, and Honduras. BCM has partnered with local churches for three of these mission trips.
Motlow State Community College
One
of our students had planned on enlisting in the Marine Corps at the end
of the spring semester. He went on our Spring Break Mission Trip to
Florida for “BeachReach.” He had such a life-changing experience that
he changed his mind on the Marines and is now sensing a possible call
to ministry. He will be back with us next year.
Dyersburg State Community College
Behind the smiles—from Baptist Press, Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 12:15:00 PM
Frankie Henry admits he thought the exhibit hall at the SBC was “pretty awesome.”
For
Henry, an 18-year-old sophomore at Dyersburg State Community College in
Dyersburg, Tenn., this was his first time to attend the SBC annual
meeting. Henry was one of more than 60 college students involved with
Baptist Collegiate Ministries (formerly Baptist Student Union) to help
man the registration booth. If you’ve been to the SBC in the last four
years you’ve probably seen them. They’re those young, smiling faces
with plenty of computer savvy that you may have spotted as you passed
by the registration booth.
Sure, it’s no glamour job. You probably know the drill – name, church, hometown, etc. Oh
yea, and don’t forget to smile … all day long. Henry admits that by the
end of the day he doesn’t really feel like smiling, but he’s able to
show his teeth just enough to get by.
“It’s really God that gets us through the day,” he said. “[And] you get to see so many people with a desire for Christ.”
It’s
a pretty simple job, but for most of these college students, who
represent colleges around the country, it’s also an opportunity to
participate in the SBC – many for the first time. Some are the only
ones representing their church as messengers.
This year’s crop of students comes from four states – Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana. In past years, students from
For
many of these students, it takes some work to get to the meeting. Some
of them had to raise enough money to be able to make the trip.
What’s
really cool about the whole thing, says Linda Osborne, national
collegiate ministry leader with LifeWay, is that students are able to
participate by listening to the sessions on a monitor and also voting.
“They
really take their role seriously,” she said, adding that the students
gathered yesterday to pray for the meeting and the decisions being
made.
Stan Cavness, director of
“It
is so great to see these young faces out there,” he said. “We hear a
lot about how we’re losing a lot of young people from the church, but
it’s not all doom and gloom out there. This is an example of some good
things that are going on.”
Jackson State Community College
The
most exciting event that happened for out BCM was in the fall. Our
number of active participants has increased by 20%. This has happened
primarily because our students started to bond a lot quicker than
during a normal fall semester. This has allowed all of our events to
become closer to each other for the purpose of ministry, discipleship
and fellowship. Also, by the group gelling quicker other students who
were not a part of our ministry, saw that we were a group who work well
together for the purpose of fellowship and ministry.
We,
for the second straight year, went to Beach Reach for our Spring Break
Mission Trip. We had a great time and the Lord blessed. Beach Reach
allowed our group to see each other in ministry on a different level.
Beach Reach challenged our students to step out of their comfort zone.
Our group received a better understanding of the lost of their
generation. Realizing the most college students have general knowledge
of God, but their lack the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Carson Newman College
SPOTS trip to Chattanooga Baptist Children’s Home
Mandy
Norris, 2008 team leader for the Chattanooga Children’s Home SPOTS
team, recounts the impact that the children’s home staff and children
have had on her. After serving there in 2007,
she made follow-up trips to visit the children and involved her home
church in purchasing Easter baskets and clothing which church members
delivered. She went back several other times as well. This year when approached to lead the team, she immediately volunteered and began enthusiastically recruiting team members. At the conclusion of the week each person noted the tremendous impact the experience had had on their lives. One participant indicated that the week had changed her life. Another is considering changing her major to psychology. Mandy is doing an internship at the children’s home this summer and feels called to work there when she graduates.
SPOTS trip to Matamoras, Mexico Quote from Jonathan Trevor’, team leader
Christ didn’t just show up to places and hand things out be it food or his theology. He was relational. He saw people not projects. So many times when we go on mission trips, we forget this. I have seen many groups go to Mexico and just hand things out. They go for a short time and leave, being no more connected to the people they have met.
This was not the case with my team this year. Korean and American Christians spent a week in Mexico having church with their Mexican brothers and sisters. This was the first time I’ve actually seen the body of Christ act like the body is supposed to. Three cultures embraced, supported and loved one another for a week. We read scripture, prayed and worshiped together in three languages.
And when we left, we left knowing each other’s names. And
when we thought of the conditions that some of them lived in, we
realized that some of the kids that we had played with would probably
not make it past childhood due to the lack of clean water and improved
sanitation. We didn’t say it was sad. For people say phrases such as this in order to describe a situation that they are not tied to or have relationship with. We did not say it was sad; we mourned, we wept, we shed tears. For these people are family. We know their names and they know ours.
University of Memphis
We sent 4 teams on Spring break missions this year. One team worked in inner city
Another
story has to do with a young man who started coming around the BCM, and
decided he wanted to be on our leadership team. He filled out the
application and met with our staff for an interview and in the process;
we discovered that he had never given his life to Christ. In our
office, he prayed and asked Jesus to take over his life. He is not on
our leadership team this year, but he has gotten plugged in and
discipled by students and other believers. It is exciting to see him
grow.
Over fall break, we took our third trip to the Gulf Coast for disaster relief. For the first time, we actually participated in new construction rather than just clean-up. Much progress has been made, but there are still plenty of needs there. Several other BCM and church groups were there too, and it was great to work and fellowship with them.
Over spring break, we decided to work near home because a February tornado had devastated part of our county and a neighboring county. So Monday through Thursday, we traveled to Macon County to help with the clean-up. Once there, we joined a college group from FBC-Hendersonville and a group from AmeriCorps. With so many volunteers in one area, we made amazing progress. Again, it was fun to work with other groups on a common goal.
Roane State Community College
Our BCM men’s group decided to take the Way of the Master video classes. While taking and following they saw 4 salvations and a number of rededications. It was so wonderful to see these young men “fired” up for Jesus. The ladies were so impressed that they also took the class. We added a big number of students to the BCM at the end of the semester, and expect most back in the fall.
Our spring break mission trip to Gulfport, MS was a great experience. Because of the training through The Way of the Master, students were privileged to lead one young man to Jesus. The group was working on rebuilding the family home and this young man was there. He asked the group why they would give up a week of vacation to come and build a house. Their response was to show the love of Christ. He wanted to know more…and there you are—a new convert.
University of Tennessee-Martin
Story #1: Beach Reach Mission Trip (Panama City Beach, FL)
A team of twenty-one (21) participated in BeachReach, a Spring Break Mission Project to Panama City Beach, FL. BeachReach is sponsored by Lifeway. During the BeachReach project, our students shared their faith and the love of God by meeting practical needs of Spring Breakers. This was done through van rides, pancake breakfasts, and building relationships through street teams. Our team also experienced the Phone Room/Hotline ministry and the Prayer ministry. Our team was able to witness 5 individuals profess faith in Jesus Christ. Hundreds of spiritual conversations took place and seeds were planted.
Story #2: Jerusalem Project 2008 (April 2008)
The BCM networked with eleven churches for the first Jerusalem Project in Weakley County. The Jerusalem Project focused on doing ministry in the local community. We had nearly 100 youth, college students and adults do various mission projects, such as beautification, trash pick up, construction, and door to door. The experience was a great success and plans are being made for next spring.