About Us

Purpose

The purpose of Collegiate Ministry is to fulfill the mission of the church by leading students and others in the academic community to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and to guide them in Christian growth and discipleship.

Philosophy

In BCM, ministry springs out of a group transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Students are motivated to build relationships with others. Some ministry needs are met through acceptance, some through prayer, or through deeds of assistance. BCM strives to be responsive to the real needs of campus and community. Ministry may involve personal and/or sociopolitical issues. BCM encourages students to reflect upon these issues and seek ways to apply the teachings of Christ to them.

The philosophic basis of collegiate ministry developed within the crucible of experience. A concise statement of that philosophy was released in 1962.The Christian witness of Southern Baptist work in all institutions of higher learning is in response to our Lord’s command to make known the gospel to all people. It reads:“This witness is an integral part of the nature and mission of the church. The role of churches is indispensable to the maturing spiritual, moral, and intellectual lives of students and faculty members. Because the university is engaged in the search for truth, of which God is the source, the Christian perspective is essential to the realization of the ultimate purpose of higher education. The unique nature of the university situation demands a specialized ministry by our denomination to the individuals in the campus community with their need for redemption and Christian nurture.” Collegiate Ministry is that specialized portion of the work of the church directed toward students and others in the academic community. It functions in reaching, teaching, and involving students in the life and work of the local church.

Core Values

God is the author of all truth.
College students matter to God and the local church.
Every college student deserves the opportunity to know God.
BCM extends the ministry of the local church on the college campus.
College students reach college students.
Every Christian student should be growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ and should be involved in a local church based on New Testament principles. During their college years, each local church should recognize their students’ involvement in BCM as an extension of the church’s ministry to the campus.
Every believer is gifted and responsible for using their gifts in missions and ministry.

Emphases

At its core, Baptist Collegiate Ministry is a group of Christian students living out the call of Christ on the college campus. These students are members of various churches joining together on campus for evangelism, missions, discipleship, and ministry. These priorities are essentially the same as those of the church, only tailored for a specific life situation. BCM can be an invaluable tool for the formation of future church leaders, the sharing of the Gospel, and outreach by churches where individual churches are often forbidden access.

Evangelism

Witnessing to others about Christ is the responsibility of every Christian. Students are encouraged to share the gospel with those they meet in classes, at work, and through other campus organizations. This is done through a comprehensive program of student evangelism. We share with others how Christ saved us from our sin and He can do the same for them.

Missions

One of the hallmarks of BCM is missions involvement. This means helping start a new church nearby, giving a summer for missions work at home or abroad, or other summer ministry work such as working in a local church. Frequently, these activities result in a lifetime of missions involvement with many answering the call of God to vocational missions ministry. As students become aware of the impact of the gospel in world issues, God speaks, and they respond.

Discipleship

Discipleship is the lifelong process of becoming like Jesus Christ under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It involves learning the teachings of the Bible and applying them to life under the guidance of a teacher. BCM provides training for leaders and opportunities for practical application in individual and small-group settings. As students become more mature in their knowledge and practice of faith, they in turn disciple others fulfilling the teachings of 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”