Kingsville: Lives changed through Beach Reach at South Padre

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The Baptist Student Ministry at Texas A&M University Kingsville recently returned from one of our most impactful mission trips to date. Every year students use their spring break to serve others on the longest barrier island in Texas, South Padre Island.

kingsville beach reach 300Prayer permeated every aspect of Beach Reach.Students from all over Texas give free van rides, serve pancakes, and walk up and down the streets of South Padre Island not only sharing the gospel verbally, but also living it out. As 1 Thessalonians 2:8 says: “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Students sacrifice their time to be the hands and feet of Jesus and truly leave this mission trip changed.

While at Beach Reach, several of our students who did not have a personal relationship with Christ really started asking questions and seeking answers. They heard the gospel many times throughout the van rides, and four of our students accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. They told how they did not want to continue living the life they were living and they wanted God to transform their hearts. This mission trip helped them to see life with Christ is worth living. Eight of our students were baptized on March 17and have started their journey with Christ.

beach reach 300Christ transformed lives at Beach Reach.This mission trip affected the lives of our students in a mighty way. They loved serving and growing in Christ. The hearts of our students broke for other spring breakers as some of them said, “That could have been me, if it weren’t for me coming to Beach Reach.” Our students came home changed and ready to continue the work here on our campus. Our students saw the body of Christ working together in unity for the sake of others coming to know Christ.

This mission trip reignited a passion within our students to share and be bold in their faith as they come back to campus. Beach Reach not only gave our students an opportunity to serve on a mission trip, but also issued us a challenge. Our students at Texas A&M University Kingsville have been challenged to live with a heart that is “always sent.” We not only should serve Christ and share our faith on mission trips, but also serve Jesus in our everyday lives, because we are “always sent.”

Verenice Flores is serving as campus missionary intern at Texas A&M University Kingsville through Go Now Missions.

    


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