Student, Gadsden State Community College
God is at work on the campus of Gadsden State Community College. I have been blessed so tremendously to be a part of the Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) here on campus.
The past two years of my life have been a clear awakening for me spiritually. My time as a college student has tested my faith and led to a healthier relationship with my heavenly Father.
The missions field here on the community college level does differ from that of the universities. In spite of not meeting in a BCM building, we are very fortunate to have fantastic relations with the college and make use of its facilities to house a weekly Bible study and discussion group.
One unique thing about Gadsden State is the large international student population on campus. Many do not own vehicles nor do they live off campus. The BCM has been able to form a strong relationship with the coordinators for international students. This relationship has resulted in opportunities to provide them with parties to welcome them as they begin the semester and as they depart at the end of the term.
This means a great deal to me and to the ministry because we have had personal opportunities to be intentional with students from all over the world who collectively speak more than 13 different languages. We recognize this as a wonderful opportunity to develop lasting relationships with students with the intentional mindset of sharing the message of Jesus Christ with these students.
In addition to our focus on the international students, we aim to not ignore our domestic friends here on campus as they need Jesus just as much as anybody. Working in conjunction with Etowah Baptist Association, we are able to present opportunities for local churches to get involved with what we are doing. One way this occurs is by having different churches provide free weekly lunches for college students.
God is always at work around us, and we anticipate exciting changes in the near future to allow us to minister differently on campus. Potential for outreach is limitless as long as we continue to humbly expect God to work in our midst and adjust ourselves to Him.
Through the campus ministry I have met numerous friends, mentors and international students. I have been able to form solid relationships with students, allowing me to witness to them. I love people of varying cultures and have been blessed beyond comprehension to meet and learn about them. Anywhere from playing soccer to having lunch with a young person who is learning the English language is just a taste of what my ministry here includes.
Please be in prayer for our college, our ministry and the overall mission of Christ pertaining to Gadsden State. I pray that the ministry here is not overlooked because of its “lesser” status in comparison to ministries on university campuses. Even though I attend a community college the need is equal to that of a university for the gospel of Christ.
History teaches us that oftentimes it is the youth who are heavily invested in global movements for change; especially those for the Christian faith. I would consider it foolish to overlook the chances that a student at a community college could very well change the world. Because of the international population here, the odds are even greater that a student could take Jesus Christ to the uttermost ends of the earth.
Getting more than a college education is our goal as the BCM here.
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