April 7, 2003
TOGETHER:
Student ministry impacts Texas
___Every year at spring break, Baptist Student Ministry helps call out, prepare, pray for and send about 2,000 college students for missions, primarily in Texas, but also across the United States, in Mexico and around the world.
___An editorial in the Port Isabel-South Padre Press said: "Most of the college students who come to the island are good kids, but they don't always behave that way. But there is another group of students ... with an entirely different outlook. ... They aren't here to hit the bars and 'hook up' with members of the opposite sex. ... They are Christian students who travel to South Padre Island from all over the state to share their faith with the other kids down here for spring break. It'scalled Beach Reach.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___ "While so many young people are confused and misguided, the Baptist students who converge on SPI each year are focused and driven by something much larger than themselves .... Whether they are talking to people on the beach or giving them free van rides late into the night, these dedicated youths are persistent and focused .... We're thankful for the students and their adult leaders."
___I am proud of these young people and of Bruce McGowan and Joyce Ashcraft, who lead our statewide collegiate work. You have a part in supporting Baptist Student Ministry on 124 campuses throughout Texas. This year, your gifts through the Baptist General Convention of Texas Cooperative Program will provide more than $3.5 million to the Center for Collegiate Ministry.
___In addition to Spring Break missions, more than 300 students plan to serve this year in summer missions throughout the United States and around the world. In light of current events, we are concerned about their safety and will continue to monitor developments.
___Ministry and evangelism are not limited to spring break or summer missions. Tyler Junior College has recorded 20 professions of faith this year on campus. Matt came to Christ last summer through a Baptist Student Ministry Bible study group. During this school year, he has led four friends to faith in Christ.
___Jesus said: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matthew 9:37-38). Baptist Student Ministry is winning students from the harvest and then returning them to the fields to be laborers for the harvest.
___East Texas Baptist University had at least 20 professions of faith among students this year. Christian friends invited four student athletes to attend a Thursday night gathering. There they heard another young athlete tell how he gave up a pro basketball career to be involved in Christian ministry. Those four came to faith in Christ.
___One of the most amazing stories of revival comes from our Baptist Student Ministry at Alpine, in the beautiful Davis Mountains of Southwest Texas. Students prepared for and led a crusade for five nights in Alpine, and 470 people gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. That is more than 5 percent of the city's total population! There were 233 children, 82 teenagers and 155 adults in that throng of new believers. One college student who came to Christ said he had been working in a bar, and he was quitting immediately.
___"The Holy Spirit of our Lord is moving on our campus in a very meaningful way," BSM Director Dan Dunagan said. "Please pray for us!" We will, Dan.
___We are loved.
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
