Jonathan Chapman, far left, and BCM students at East Tennessee State University display bags of pecans that the students deliver to church and campus leaders to express appreciation for their support during the year. BCM students, from left, are Jacob Brown, Ava Whitt, Kate Grandstaff, Matthew Kinsler, Samuel Christensen and Chris Dockery.
JOHNSON CITY — As the end of the fall semester draws to a close many campus organizations cut down on activities so students can finish projects and report and begin studying for final exams.
At East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, the first full week in December is known as “dead week,” said Jonathan Chapman, collegiate ministries specialist at ETSU, adding that the school cancels all classes during the last day of dead week.
While the BCM recognizes the importance of finishing papers and preparing for exams, students still need a break, he noted. So, while some organizations slow down, ETSU’s BCM schedules an activity every night during dead week.
“We had so much going on,” Chapman said.
The BCM provided a free meal each night, along with activities and events such as a Christian Olympics, an ugly sweater contest, an outing to view the Christmas trees at Founder’s Park in the city, a scavenger hunt and a movie night complete with popcorn, Chapman said.
The Tuesday night event, which included the ugly sweater contest, featured Christmas Worship Night complete with Christmas worship songs and Scripture. The worship night drew the largest crowd with more than 200 students while the other events drew anywhere from 50 students or more nightly, he added.
BCM students at ETSU pray over their graduating seniors during the Christmas Worship Night service held during dead week.
“We’ve been doing dead week activities for nine years and it gets bigger and bigger every year,” Chapman said.
All of the events are intended to reach students who have not been to a BCM event during the year or those who come occasionally, he noted. “Each event provides an opportunity to reach students with the gospel.
In addition, some of the BCM’s 300-plus members deliver bags of pecans during the week to local church and ministry leaders as well as faculty and administrators on campus who support the efforts of the BCM ministry, Chapman said.
“I enjoy the week. It’s a lot of fun. We enjoy reaching out to the campus and demonstrating that God is alive and well, even during dead week.” B&R
