Spring break often means leisurely trips, vacations and time with family and friends for most college students, but students serving with the Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) in Alabama spent their breaks a bit differently. BCM students served throughout the state, country and world during their March breaks, proclaiming Christ’s name everywhere from New York to Ukraine to Portugal, and even in Alabama.
Several groups of students ministered in Queens, N.Y., with Alabama native Nathan Creitz, a pastor and church planter who is in the process of planting City Life Church.
They spent the mornings handing out candy and fliers about the church at busy intersections and subway stops. Although pedestrians were often in a hurry, they were able to have several conversations with people walking by in hopes of sharing the gospel and connecting them with Creitz and City Life Church.
One student from Auburn University-Montgomery (AUM), Jessica Flournoy, tells the story of meeting a man named Louis while handing out information about City Life Church. Louis grew up as a Catholic but had been away from church for many years; he shared with Jessica and other students that he had a dream about a Baptist church and was interested in visiting. They were able to pass along his information to Creitz and connect the two of them.
In the afternoons, the students found creative ways to meet people. Some visited door-to-door, others participated in park beautification projects and some even served businesses by offering to clean their bathrooms and windows.
Emily Gehman, a student at the University of Alabama, spent time with two Queens residents and shared the gospel with them. Even though they didn’t come to know Christ that week, Gehman trusts the Holy Spirit and knows that God will keep working in their lives.
“I know that God can take these conversations and bring them to fruition,” Gehman said. “We can plant, and the seed can be watered by other people, but God brings the harvest. This is something that we are trusting in — that God will bring the harvest.”
Several students said this experience will have an impact on how they see ministry on their campuses and has taught them the importance of living each day on mission.
Justin Law, a student at AUM, said Creitz taught him that missions is about more than just making converts. It’s about disciples making disciples and sharing the gospel through building relationships with others, he said.
First-time missions tripper Jenna Keel, a student from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, said she felt God specifically calling her to go on this trip, despite her fears.
“I learned to listen to God and not doubt what He wants you to do,” she said.
Other BCM students served a little closer to home by partnering with Barefoot Believers, a resort ministry of Baldwin Baptist Association. Students served with the missionary in charge of the ministry, Nate Diehl (see story, page 9), and invested in the Gulf Shores area in a variety of ways.
Some students prepared breakfast for college students on spring break, and others organized block parties for families staying in RV parks while on vacation. Another group worked in Aaronville during the week and hosted a camp for children.
Neal Embry, a student from the University of Montevallo, served with the group working in Aaronville. They picked up trash in the federal housing project each morning and also held camps for the children in the area.
One morning Embry picked up cigarette butts in a family’s yard, while the residents watched him serve.
“Nothing is too burdensome of a task to do if it’s going to show them how much God loves them in Christ,” he said. “I didn’t get to say much to them, but I hope that we showed them love in that situation.”
Jacob Pierce, a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said he did not realize there were so many needs in his own backyard.
“That’s what’s neat about anywhere you are,” he said. “You can lift the name of Jesus up and serve people.”
Some campuses put these lessons learned into place through emphasizing evangelism and outreach on their various campuses during the week before Easter. One goal of BCM is to help support students as they share Christ with others wherever they are — on missions trips across the world, serving in their home state and as they live day-to-day on their campuses.
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