By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
HENDERSONVILLE — More than 600 Baptist Collegiate Ministry leaders, representing 35 states, recently gathered for the College Summit at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville.
And boy, did they have a lot to talk about.
In additon to honoring and celebrating 100 years of Southern Baptist cooperative collegiate ministry, the attendees at the three-day event, held May 5-7, also reflected on the challenges of the past year.
Last spring, most college campuses across the nation were shut down, and classes shifted to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The unusual circumstances — which led to the cancelation or postponements of most events, including the best-laid plans of BCMs across the nation — spilled over well into the 2020-21 academic year.
So, when the BCM leaders gathered for the Summit conference, which is held every three years, they said the event afforded them a great chance to have therapeutic conversations about the hardships of the past year. The conference, which featured worship sessions and breakout sessions, was also a time of instruction, inspiration and the exchanging of ideas.
“Being a part of the Summit was refreshing to say the least because we were able to be face-to-face with people in our same calling and with our same passions,” said Jeff Jones, BCM director at the University of Memphis.
“The College Summit was especially encouraging because we feel like we are restarting Campus Ministry in some ways, and it was both instructive and creative as we dreamt about reaching and discipling students in the coming fall semester.”
Mark Whitt, BCM director at Middle Tennessee State University, said the conference had an energizing effect on those who attended.
“I was so thankful for the opportunity to actually gather with our colleagues from all over North America for three days,” Whitt said. “There is nothing like being in the same room with over 500 college ministers who all have a heart for the college campus. The past year has been challenging, so it was refreshing to actually be in the same room to worship, learn and fellowship with friends.”
This year’s conference had an added amount of significance, as attendees and conference leaders celebrated 100 years of Southern Baptist cooperative collegiate ministry. The event featured interviews of ministry leaders representing multiple decades of collegiate ministry.
“Baptist Collegiate Ministry has such a rich history in our SBC life … and to be at an event where we were able to celebrate 100 years of cooperative collegiate ministry was truly special,” said Whitt, who has been involved with campus ministry for more than 25 years. “Those 100 years translate into countless gospel conversations, Bible studies, mission trips and outreaches on campus, and that is so exciting to think about.”
Whitt said he was especially “thankful that Southern Baptists and Tennessee Baptists have said it is important to have a presence on the college campus and have seen millions of students impacted for the cause of the gospel.”
Jones noted that looking back on the past 100 years was enjoyable, and said it helped him be all the more enthused about the future.
“It was exciting to think that we are the generation of college ministry leaders who understand and experience this kind of celebration,” he said. “Some of my personal excitement comes from an understanding that a lot of college ministry within the life of the Southern Baptist Convention started in or around the Memphis area. It was great to reflect on those thoughts and be reminded that God is still at work and reaching and equipping college students.”
Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, was among the featured speakers. He reminded leaders that they can’t rely on their own strength to lead and minister in perilous times.
“When you and I minister out of being tired, burnt out or discouraged, we begin to fake ministry,” Gallaty said. “We begin to have what Paul says is the appearance of godliness, but we have no power.”
Attendees also heard from several additional ministry leaders, including Noe Garcia, Dhati Lewis, Trillia Newbell, Trevin Wax and James Emery White.
The conference’s breakout sessions addressed some of the key issues collegiate ministers are facing today, including mental health, healing racial division, leading and evangelizing GenZ, growing resilient disciples and navigating the digital landscape in ministry.
Whitt said he found the conference to be a great time of learning and exploring new concepts.
“I always walk away from the Collegiate Summit with so many new ideas that I’ve gathered from the breakouts or from conversations I’ve had with other campus ministers,” Whitt said. “The main sessions, the breakout sessions and the one-on-one conversations in the hallways give me great ideas to bring back to our MTSU campus.”
Jones said the conference was an energy boost for himself and many of the other BCM leaders, and said he was inspired by the stories he heard.
“My biggest takeaway from the week was the fact that God is still at work despite COVID, and is calling out students to a relationship with Him that can impact the entire world,” he said. “I was excited to see both older and younger college ministry leaders gathering together with excitement and anticipation of the fall semester.”
Jones and Whitt each said the circumstances of the past year have certainly been challenging, but said they were encouraged to see BCM leaders across the nation display their commitment to finding ways to reach students with the Good News of Jesus.
“Thanks to the creativity of student leaders, we were still able to connect with students and help them pursue an authentic relationship with Jesus in our small group and virtual settings (even with many campuses closed or partially closed),” Whitt said.
“The mission of the MTSU BCM has not changed in the pandemic. We are still about Connecting with Authentic Friendships, Pursuing an Authentic Relationship with Jesus, and Go with Intention,” he said.
Jones said the past year featured plenty of heavy emotions. He said there were moments of discouragement, to be sure, but said he can see how God used this time to strengthen his walk and enhance his desire to impact students all the more.
“Collegiate ministry leaders, like many other people, struggled greatly this year — with either having to adjust the way they did things or completely shut down a ministry to some degree,” Jones said. “There were some really disheartening times. But after the darkness comes some great light. I have probably not been as excited about anything as I am the coming semester because I see a great hunger in the lives of college students for community, purpose, connection and peace.”
Jones said he feels this unprecedented time in history will open new avenues for the gospel to be shared.
“I think that in many ways we have experienced the plowing and preparation of the harvest field like never before,” he said. “The seeds that have been planted during this time through online interaction, video content and more, will hopefully take root and begin to produce amazing fruit as the campus gathers together again in the fall. That is what Tennessee Baptists can really pray for as we prepare this summer for a major emphasis on sharing the gospel and seeing lives transformed on our campuses in Tennessee.” B&R