Impact Of Baptist College Missions Stretches Beyond Summer
NASHVILLE — Baptist Student Ministries. Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Baptist Campus Ministries. Christian Challenge. By whatever name, it still produces missionaries and the next generation of Southern Baptist leaders.
The early weeks of the college school year focus on welcoming students to campus for these ministries. Discipleship and missions are a big part of that, and led to 11,267 students involved in missions during 2022-23. That number grew to 12,728 during 2023-24. Figures are still being tabulated for 24-25.
Individual settings determine the work, but center around evangelism. That can be leading a weeklong Vacation Bible School, street witnessing or doing surveys for a church plant both within the U.S. and internationally.
“Summer missions gives students great hands-on ministry experience,” said Bill Noe, associate director for Texas Baptists’ Center for Collegiate Ministry. “They are engaged in ministry activities throughout the entire summer that allow them to learn their individual spiritual and ministry gifting.”
Over the last year, Texas Baptists sent 595 college students on missions. More than half, 310, are just now coming off the field from the summer and are positioned to take what they’ve learned to campus and church.
“They aren’t on the sidelines watching ministry happen around them or being the recipients of a church’s collegiate ministry,” said Noe. “They are daily in the trenches of children’s ministry, youth ministry, evangelism and a variety of other ministry activities. This level of training prepares them to return better equipped to serve in the local church and to engage in evangelism in their own local college campus.”
Chad Coleman, state BCM director for Oklahoma Baptists, pointed out that the experience also helps students consider vocational ministry.
“Our leaders have discussed the importance of calling out the called,” he said. “Future pastors and church staff are on these mission trips. I’m a product of BCM, and when I became a youth pastor, I leaned on my experiences as a student missionary.”
Coleman has worked with BCM for 19 years, becoming the state director in January. Before that, he was the associate state director for five years and was also the campus minister for the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
“It impacted my life,” he said of missions. “When students go, it impacts them as well.”
Many go on more than one mission trip throughout the year, of course. But for many others, it is their first experience. This year, 120 Oklahoma BCM students have taken part in international trips while 460 did so in other states and 912 contributed to local missions.
Riley Dickerson, a UCO student who served this summer in Salt Lake City, called her experience life-changing. “God opened my eyes to the darkness that is all over the world and just how many people are truly lost,” she said.
Zach Long, another student on the same trip, added that it showed him the importance of building intentional relationships while giving him the chance to see spiritual gifts in action from other missionaries.
“Watching the Gospel proclaimed really showed the heart of this generation of believers to share the Gospel and make disciples,” said Long.
Although technically independent of how they go about it, there is a general consensus among states on identifying and training missionaries for BCM-centric missions as well as ongoing partnerships with the International Mission Board and GenSend of the North American Mission Board.
“We’re putting together our project list for next summer right now,” said Ben Edfelt, Collegiate and Student Ministries director for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
The fall is spent nailing down those missions sites as well as encouraging students to pray about being a part of missions during the school year and summer.
“If I’m a student interested in summer missions, I’ve also been discipled by my campus minister and encouraged by a mentor and friends to pray about it,” Edfelt said. “In October, I’m looking at the project list and thinking about it.”
In Alabama, the application process includes interviews with the campus minister and others locally. If determined to be a good candidate, the BCM recommends that person for service. All of those candidates from throughout the state gather for an all-day interview process in February.
“It’s not just an interview, but to help them think through the process of how God has called them to serve that summer,” Edfelt said. “We do our very best to match up their gifts, skills and passions with the needs on the field.”
Students learn about a week after interviews where they will be serving. A weekend training follows in April. The debriefing process upon summer missionaries’ return varies among states, with some doing so in larger gatherings while others occur on individual campuses.
Chris Larmoyeux sees the impact of summer missions as Arkansas Baptists’ Baptist Collegiate Ministry and Church Health Strategist.
“This time is really pivotal as they’re exploring God’s call in their life. They have the opportunity to get their feet wet in ministry and be invested in by other leaders,” he said. “It’s always fun to hear their stories when they get back. The staying power extends beyond the summer.”
Students who may not choose full-time vocational ministry also receive confirmation of ministry service.
“They still get a renewed vision for how God can use them in the workplace,” said Larmoyeux. “All of them recognize that God has a place of ministry for them, in whatever work they do. They become engaged in living on mission.”
This article has been republished courtesy of Baptist Press.
Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.