Franks
CLARKSVILLE — Heather Franks’ life has come full circle.
After being involved with Baptist Collegiate Ministries as a student at Austin Peay State University, she now serves as the campus’ collegiate ministry specialist.
Originally from Waynesboro, Tenn., Franks initially thought she would become a teacher. She finished her degree in English at APSU, but an education wasn’t the only thing she took away from the university.
“I had always been told by my pastor’s wife to get involved with BCM,” said Franks, who now attends Hilldale Baptist in Clarksville.
“I remember seeing a Golden Offering video about Austin Peay BCM at my church one Sunday, and that was kind of like, ‘OK, this is something that I could be a part of.’”
Franks is filling the role previously held by Stacy Murphree, who now serves as TBMB’s director of campus ministries
After getting involved with BCM, Franks participated in student leadership and served on her first mission trip in 2017 to New York City.
“For being a country girl in the middle of nowhere, that was a big deal,” she laughed.
During her senior year, she served a summer in Alaska through Send TN.
“During that summer was really when God solidified a ministry calling,” she recalled.
Franks graduated from APSU in 2019 and served there as a campus missionary for five years. She recently graduated from Southeastern Seminary in May.
But one of the biggest influences on Franks’ faith journey was getting involved with BCM’s small group, also known as family groups.
“That was kind of the first time that I had ever been challenged by my peers,” she said. “One of the coolest things was to see that like-mindedness.”
She said those formative years are critical.
“Your early 20s are very, very transformative years, and it can go one way or the other sometimes,” Franks said. “I was very thankful for being a part of BCM because of the influence that it had on my life.”
Despite BCM’s long history, Franks said the organization still has its work cut out. Some statistics show 90% of college students do not know Jesus.
There’s also a trend in Gen Z’s interest in spirituality, though not necessarily Christianity. “I think BCM is so important right now too because we try to meet students where they’re at,” she said.
Franks said students are eager to engage in spiritual conversations. BCM staff go out on college campuses, asking deep, personal spiritual questions.
“They want to share with you what it is that they believe, and they’re open to hearing the gospel probably more than even whenever I was a student just 10 years ago,” she said.
Heather Franks, back right, with other members of the BCM at Austin Peay University gathering for a photo during an outreach project in 2021 where the BCM students passed out snow cones to other students. – B&R file photo
BCM conducts spiritual surveys and sets up booths giving away hot chocolate and lemonade to open gospel conversations. The ministry also provides evangelism training for students to share their faith on campus or on mission trips, while maintaining a culture of discipleship.
“It’s so important for us to be physically out on campus and not just in our building,” Franks said. “The presence on campus means so much because they get to see our faces in kind of a neutral zone, not in our space.”
“Individuals like Heather are a big reason why I feel so passionate about my personal calling to collegiate ministry,” Murphree said.
“A student who enters college, gets connected to BCM and a local church, and through things like serving as a leader, sharing the gospel on campus, and going on mission trips they discover God’s calling to vocational ministry for their lives.”
Murphree said Franks’ experience at APSU will be invaluable in her new role.
“Heather will continue to build strong relationships across the board because she knows the rhythms of APSU, and both as a student and campus missionary had opportunities to serve with many of the local churches in the area,” she said.
As BCM turns 100 this year, Franks said it’s a testament to the organization’s resilience and presence.
“It is an honor to get to be a part of the next generation of that,” she said.
In her free time, Franks enjoys spending time with her nephews, traveling, and watching the Chicago Cubs. B&R
