June 17, 2002
Texas BSMs report spiritual interest
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Several Texas Baptist student ministries directors report an increase in interest in spiritual matters among college students over the past school year.
___"I think that God-sized hole in their heart is really eating at them," said Ella Baldree, part-time BSM director at North Central Texas College in Gainesville. "They are seeing how religion applies to their lives more than ever before."
Baptist Student Ministries are finding students open to the gospel across the state.
___Baldree, who witnessed five professions of faith in Christ during the spring semester, is just one BSM director who has had a successful year. Directors across the state have seen growth in their programs as well as in their students. More students are reported to be reaching out to their campuses and communities to share the gospel.
___"I see students being more passionate. I see students being more thirsty," said Joyce Ashcraft, program coordinator for the Center for Collegiate Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. "When you talk about professions of faith, I think we will be up."
___Not only are they desiring to be closer to God, students are open to hearing what the campus ministries are offering, said Mark Jones, director of the Tyler Junior College BSM. However, there are many activities that pull them in different directions--jobs, friends, social functions--that make it difficult for administrators to schedule events that students have time to attend.
___To combat students' lack of availability, BSM directors across the state have tried different approaches, ranging from free laundry nights to free meals. Meetings are scheduled late at night, and smaller group Bible studies at student homes are encouraged.
___David Chan, director of the University of Texas-Pan American BSM, discovered rather than advertising a free meal with some of his activities, it is better to tell people what topic will be discussed. This has helped link activities to popular culture as he connected his lunch program with the movie "The Matrix," calling it "the Matrix of Campus."
___BSMs at small schools must act quickly to connect with students and get them involved in the program, because they have only one or two years before the students graduate or transfer to a university, Jones said.
___Much of the work done at the BSM reveals itself in churches, Jones said. After students and staff at the BSM minister to someone, that person may make a profession of faith at a church, not at the BSM. Many students from BSMs continue to work in churches during the summer break.
___Directors hope students continue to grow spiritually, developing relationships through which they can share the gospel as it was once shared with them.
___"We want people to be saved," said Baldree, who generally works more days than the one day a week her position requires. "That's the main thing to me. Don't judge them, just lead them."
___BGCT student ministry staff echoed the directors' sentiments, agreeing that while each profession of faith should be celebrated, there is still much headway to be made.
___"I think we have a ways to go," Ashcraft said. "I want to see us move to a point where every student in Texas has an opportunity to respond to the gospel."
___A final report on professions of faith through Texas BSMs will be available in about a month.
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