Back to School! Praying for BCM Across South Carolina
Every August, students flood college campuses across the state to begin another school year. College is more than an academic experience. It is a formative season for students to ask important questions about who they are, what they believe, and what kind of life they want to live. Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) has the opportunity to meet students in the middle of those questions and point them to Jesus.
What Is BCM?
Baptist Collegiate Ministry is a ministry of Southern Baptists that seeks to reach college students with the gospel and equip them to live as faithful followers of Christ. BCMs partner with local churches to establish a gospel presence on college campuses.
BCM is uniquely positioned to minister to students during one of the most influential seasons of their lives. College students come from a variety of backgrounds, communities, and experiences. Some arrive on campus with a strong Christian faith and years of church involvement. Others may have grown up in the church, but are struggling with questions about their faith. Some have little or no experience with Christianity.
BCM provides opportunities to meet students where they are and invite them into a relationship with Christ.
Through Bible studies, worship gatherings, discipleship groups, missions opportunities, retreats, community events, and one-on-one relationships, BCM leaders and students work together to share the gospel on their campus and encourage spiritual growth.
A Mission Field in Our Own Backyard
It can be easy to think of missions as something that happens far away. We may picture missionaries serving in another country or traveling across the world to share the gospel. But college campuses throughout South Carolina remind us that mission opportunities are closer than we think.
Every fall, thousands of students arrive on campuses from communities throughout the state, across the country, and around the world. They bring with them different cultures, experiences, beliefs, and questions.
Just last year, BCMs across South Carolina…
● Engaged with 31,067 students.
● Saw 518 students come to faith in Christ
● Mobilized 1,057 students on mission
● Engaged with 837 international students
The college campus is a mission field.
Local Churches Partnering with BCM
BCM also gives local churches an opportunity to engage with college students. Churches partner with BCM by praying for campus ministries, providing meals and hospitality, and developing relationships with students. The goal is for students to become meaningfully engaged with a local church while in college.
When churches and campus ministries work together, the result can be a powerful gospel presence in the lives of college students.
How Can I Get Involved?
Serve a local BCM.
Reach out to a local BCM and inquire about how you or your church could serve college students and support the ministry of BCM. To find a BCM near you, visit https://www.scbaptist.org/collegiate/
Pray!
Below are prayer requests from a few BCMs across the state. As a new school year begins, commit to praying for these requests.
Charleston Southern University
● Pray for students to connect with healthy local churches throughout the Charleston area where they can worship, serve, and continue growing in their faith beyond their college years.
● Pray for student leaders and ministry volunteers as they serve this year. Pray that they would love Christ well, love one another well, and faithfully serve the students entrusted to them.
● Pray for genuine spiritual growth across campus as students come to know Christ, grow as disciples, and are equipped to make Him known wherever He leads them.
Clemson University
● Pray for the six Welcome Week events taking place over seven days beginning August 17 and for opportunities to connect with students and introduce them to BCM.
● Pray for the 23 students on the BCM leadership team as they actively share the good news and invite non-Christian students into their lives, BCM, and local churches.
● Pray for the fall retreat, September 25–27, and that many freshmen and non-Christian students would sign up and participate.
● Pray for the March 13–20 mission trip to New York City and for the goal of sending 40 students to serve and share the gospel.
Coastal Carolina University
● Pray for gospel conversations and salvations as students share the gospel boldly and engage in meaningful conversations. Pray that many Coastal Carolina students would place their faith in Christ this year.
● Pray for the student leadership team as they walk closely with Jesus, lead with conviction and humility, and seek to impact the campus for the gospel.
● Pray for students to connect with local churches and become healthy, active church members who also encourage local churches to care about and engage with college students.
● Pray for students to be equipped and called to ministry and for God to mobilize students for missions and kingdom work, including some who may be called to full-time ministry.
Coker University
● Pray for wisdom and direction as the BCM ministry begins a new school year.
● Pray for students to champion the cause of Christ on campus and within BCM, and ask God to raise up students who will lead others toward Him.
● Pray for opportunities to share the gospel and for meaningful conversations with students who need to hear the good news of Jesus.
Francis Marion University
● Pray for opportunities to reach freshmen, international students, and athletes with the gospel and to build meaningful relationships with them.
● Pray for a transition toward more intentional small-group discipleship that helps students grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.
● Pray for new leaders to be raised up to fill the gaps left by students who have recently graduated.
● Pray for students to respond obediently to God’s call to missions and ministry and to be willing to serve wherever He leads them.
Lander University
● Pray for directors Scott Smith and Katie Troutman as they seek to serve faithfully and help the BCM ministry grow.
● Pray for the 32 student leaders as they share Jesus with their peers and invite other students into relationship with Christ, BCM, and the local church.
● Pray for lives to be transformed by the gospel and for students to respond to God’s call to missions and ministry.
● Pray for the first week of school as BCM hosts ministry events throughout the week to connect with and reach students.
● Pray for ongoing partnerships with local churches and Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries.
Newberry College
● Pray for greater visibility for BCM on campus this year and for opportunities to reach more Newberry College students with the gospel.
● Pray for new relationships to be formed with students who may be searching for community, truth, and a place to belong.
University of South Carolina–Aiken
● Pray for leadership—both student leaders and a new BCM director as Gina Kelly retires after 21 years of faithful service.
● Pray for a smooth transition as new leadership steps into this ministry and seeks God’s direction for the future.
University of South Carolina
● Pray for BCM student leaders as they transition back into school and prepare for the semester. Pray for their spiritual growth and for hearts that desire to reach their peers.
● Pray for the 6,000+ freshmen arriving at the University of South Carolina, as well as freshmen beginning at Columbia College and Midlands Technical College. Pray that they would find meaningful community and opportunities to hear the gospel.
● Pray for the 1,000+ students who connected with BCM this summer and requested information or expressed interest in the ministry. Pray that these students would become connected to a spiritual community where they can grow in their faith.
● Pray for churches and college ministries throughout Columbia as they engage college students, share the gospel, and help students mature in their faith.
● Pray for international students arriving on campus, including those encountered through airport pickups and welcome events. Pray that God would soften their hearts toward the gospel and that many would hear the gospel for the first time.
● Pray for the 22 BCM events taking place during the first nine days of class. Pray that God would use these events to engage the campus and that BCM would reach 10,000–15,000 students during this time.
● Pray for Tuesday night gatherings, especially as BCM presents clear opportunities for students to respond to the gospel.
