Baptist Collegiate Ministries Archives

FACING THE FUTURE

August 26, 2021

BCM leaders cautiously optimistic about ‘returning to normal’ for 2021-22 year

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Members of the BCM at Austin Peay University gather for a photo during an outreach project in which the BCM students passed out snow cones to other students. Pictured are, back from left: Danyel Rowe, Leah Kennedy, Stacy Murphree, Sarah Tracy, LilyAnne Miller, Heather Franks; Front row, from left, Madison McConnell, Ashlyn Mayberry, Chelsey Murphy, Candice Trice, Jillian Bell.

FRANKLIN — Given all that they’ve been through over the past 18 months, Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) leaders are beginning to think that strange is the new normal.

Last fall, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, BCM leaders were sent scrambling when most college campuses became almost desolate. Classes were mostly held in online platforms, and virtually all activities were canceled — or, at the least, altered — in keeping with COVID protocols and procedures.

Now, one year later, the landscape is still muddled for BCM leaders and students. With the effects of the pandemic very much still part of everyday life, there remains a thick air of uncertainty regarding the coming months. Even as college students begin moving into their dorms, they are well aware that major changes could be right around the corner.

So, where has this left BCM directors and leaders? Exhausted, for one thing. But also, believe it or not, encouraged. Many of the BCM leaders say they have seen God work in amazing ways during these challenging days — and they have been awed by the way that students have grown stronger in their walks with the Lord in this time. [Read more…]

BSU IMPACTED LIVES AT VANDERBILT

June 21, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Three researchers who have played various roles in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines have a common thread — they were members of the Baptist Student Union (now Baptist Collegiate Ministry) at Vanderbilt University in Nashville while Bill Choate was BSU director at the university (see related story). Choate is now the BCM director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

He remembers the three students — Buddy Creech, Josh Denny and Sheri Wilcox — well and has remained in contact with them over the years.

“What a blessing it is for campus ministers to be part of college students’ lives during their formative years,” said Choate. “Out of that time can come life-long friendships. Those relationships are really the greatest blessing of my personal investment in this ministry.” [Read more…]

BCM LEADERS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF COOPERATIVE MINISTRY, DISCUSS CHALLENGES

May 20, 2021

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

BCM leaders from the around the nation are prayed over by Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, at this year’s College Summit. — Photo by Carol Pipes

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. [Read more…]

POSSIBLE SBC DECISION TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON TENNESSEE BCMS

May 11, 2021

By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner
Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) in Tennessee will not be impacted by a possible Southern Baptist Convention vote to transfer the collegiate ministry assignment from LifeWay Christian Resources to the North American Mission Board.

“It is important to remember that Tennessee Baptists have provided Baptist Collegiate Ministry on Tennessee campuses for approximately 100 years,” said Bill Choate, collegiate ministry director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“While it is not clear precisely what action NAMB now will take to support collegiate ministry across North America, Tennessee BCMs will continue to operate as a ministry of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board with support from the Tennessee Baptist Convention network of churches, local churches and Baptist associations across our state.”

Some questions arose about the status of Tennessee BCMs after the recent spring 2021 meeting of the North American Mission Board trustees who unanimously passed a resolution formally requesting the SBC’s collegiate ministry assignment be entrusted to the organization. [Read more…]

2020: A YEAR TO REMEMBER

December 31, 2020

Ministry created by tornadoes, pandemic dominate year’s top stories

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — The year 2020 began on a positive note with giving through the Cooperative Program at a high level for the first four months of the fiscal year and after a record-breaking year for gifts through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions in 2019.

Then came March — and life turned upside down, not only for the nation, but for Tennessee Baptist churches as well. [Read more…]

BCM SEEKS TO CONNECT FROM A DISTANCE

May 18, 2020

COVID-19 creates challenges, leads to new campaign to reach students

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Connecting with incoming freshmen is always a high priority for Baptist Campus Ministry leaders.

Attempting to make those connections this fall, however, is going to look much different than it has in the past.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancelation of many of the traditional functions that are held in the weeks before school starts — including many late summer social gatherings and orientation events — and has created the need for BCM leaders across the nation to find new ways to reach out.

In Tennessee, the BCM leadership team has launched a statewide campaign that involves engaging with churches in hopes of securing names and contact information of students who would potentially be interested in joining the BCM. [Read more…]

COLLEGE MINISTRY LEADERS WORK TO CONTINUE OUTREACH AMID COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

April 4, 2020

By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press

Rachel Owen, a senior at UT Martin, works at her computer.

NASHVILLE — College ministry thrives in community. But the COVID-19 pandemic — and the resulting social distancing policies, including bans on large gatherings and campus-wide shutdowns — has in many ways severed traditional connections.

In an uncertain time, college ministries are finding ways to not only maintain community despite distance, but also working to foster an increasingly encouraging environment for the future.

A Heightened Focus

“Ministry looks like real life,” said Tiffany Hudson, director for Vanderbilt University Baptist Collegiate Ministry in Nashville. “It looks like helping collegians understand their need for community and providing space for them to continue to navigate life together.”

The correct focus of college ministry is leading students to the Word of God, where they can find true soul nourishment, Hudson continued. Even though most students have left campus because of the pandemic and scattered to their various homes, disrupting the traditional avenues for encouraging and equipping, that focus hasn’t changed. [Read more…]

BIG BOOST FOR BIG EMORY

October 23, 2019

Location change has led to new ministry opportunities

Editor’s Note: Baptist associations are the emphasis on the Southern Baptist Convention calendar Oct. 20-26. Tennessee Baptists have 65 associations across the state. Here is a look at Big Emory Baptist Association based in Harriman.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Director of missions Randy Roper stands in Big Emory Baptist Association’s Great Commission Center which has enhanced the association’s ministry to churches.

HARRIMAN — Three years ago, Big Emory Baptist Association moved from the site it had occupied since 1969 to a new location on South Roane Street, not far from Interstate 40.

It has proven to be a huge boost for the association’s ministries and the association is still growing into its space, said Randy Roper, director of missions for Big Emory Baptist Association since 2015.

The association bought three former storefront buildings adjacent to each other and divided their project into three phases. Phase one consisted of the office facilities. The building now in use was completely gutted and remodeled, Roper said. The association moved into the new offices in 2016. [Read more…]

FREE PANCAKES KICK OFF BCM MINISTRY AT MTSU

September 12, 2019

By Ashley Perham
B&R contributing writer

Lisa Whitt, left, and Jennifer Choate make pancakes to help kick off the year for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at MTSU.

MURFREESBORO — The Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Middle Tennessee State University kicked off the new school year by offering free, all-you-can-eat pancakes to students from 8 p.m. to midnight.

It is the second year the BCM has offered free pancakes the first week of school although they have been serving pancakes during finals week for more than 10 years.

Mark Whitt, MTSU campus minister, said the event was a great way to connect with students quickly because the event takes place on move-in day.

“It’s also an event right after the carnival, a big event on campus, and then there’s nothing planned afterwards so we were able to just continue in with a big welcome to campus,” Whitt said. “It’s a quick way to meet students in a real non-threatening kind of way.” [Read more…]

SPECIAL THANKS

August 28, 2019

Ashley Perham, a summer intern for the Baptist and Reflector, interviews pastor Micah Creekmore of Living Water Church, Murfreesboro, while writing news articles on City Reach Memphis.

If you have read the Baptist and Reflector regularly over the past few weeks, you have seen the name Ashley Perham quite often.

Ashley is a student at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro who served as an intern for the paper this summer. Though she received college credit for the experience, the B&R was the real winner.

Ashley did an outstanding job. She assisted in writing feature stories, proofing the paper and did some photography. She took on every assignment we gave her and responded with professionalism and enthusiasm. She took every task seriously and always gave her best effort. [Read more…]

BCM leaders cautiously optimistic about ‘returning to normal’ for 2021-22 year

Ministry created by tornadoes, pandemic dominate year’s top stories

COVID-19 creates challenges, leads to new campaign to reach students

Location change has led to new ministry opportunities

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