Who is it in your ministry that may need to consider if they are called to vocational ministry? I urge you to have the conversation. You may be the only one in their life that’s able to have that conversation with them.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost and He invites us to join in His mission. What a privilege!

With over 30,000 students enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the words of Jesus ring true, for the harvest truly is plentiful. Arkansas Baptists have partnered together to reach these students through campus and church based collegiate ministry seeing hundreds of students make significant faith decisions yearly. 

This past summer, I had the privilege of serving and representing Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) to all of the campers at Camp Siloam. During one of the break times, I had been spending time among some of the pastors, youth leaders, and many volunteers and staff working at camp. Among this group was Pastor Todd Peebles, and his son Asa who had just graduated high school. Todd is the senior pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church (FSBC) of Independence, Kansas. 

Have you ever watched sci-fi or fantasy movies like ‘Lord of the Rings’ or ‘Star Wars’ and thought to yourself, “you know if they actually used their power right now this whole situation would become a lot less dire for them!”? They have power at their fingertips, and it seems as if using their power is an afterthought or a last option. Well, here is the thing, we do the same thing! All the time! God has promised us His power and the way for us to access it is through prayer, and yet prayer many times is our last option. Or, when we do pray, it is for things for ourselves. Things that do not align with the will of God. So how can we have better rhythms of prayer in our lives every day?

Partnership is at the heart of what we do as Arkansas Baptists. There is no greater evidence to that fact than what we experience each year in our Acts 1:8 “One Day” Missions Trip.  

As I prepare to retire from collegiate ministry and transition to being on church staff, I want to say that it has been a joy to serve within the ABSC (Arkansas Baptist State Convention) and alongside so many loving and giving churches. Having served with three different state conventions solely within the capacity of collegiate ministry for the past 33 years, I have learned a few things. Here are a few reminders and encouragements for churches when it comes to collegiate ministry.  

In partnership with IMB missionaries  and Pastor  Nelson of Soma Community Church, the Pine Bluff Baptist Collegiate Ministry equipped and mobilized three recent graduates to go to Sao Paulo, Brazil for the purpose of encouraging Christians in Sao Paulo to “not grow weary of doing good (Gal. 6:9),” and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey and see people move from enemies of God to children of God (Ephesians 2:1-10). 

Part of the joy of working with college students is helping identify and disciple those feeling called to ministry! One of the best parts of my job is now seeing how our Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) graduates pour out their lives for the Gospel across the world. Below, I share how God called me and hope it can help others follow Jesus in the same way.