College students commissioned to serve this summer

“It is not about you.”

With one simple sentence, Jane Poster, USC Baptist collegiate minister, summed up the central theme to this year’s batch of college students commissioned for summer missions service.

More than 43 students will be serving May through August in places such as Texas and New Orleans as well as the Philippines and South Asia.

Lauren Davis, summer missionary from Anderson University, encouraged fellow students with Exodus 17:8-15, where Moses obediently raised his hands to God in battle.

“It is not your job to worry about the results of your obedience – . If you think it is about you, you will learn this summer that it is not,” she said.

Chad Stillwell, collegiate strategist for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, challenged the students with the reality of the world they will enter this summer. Stillwell sited examples of South Asians desperately trying to appease their gods and refugees in Pittsburgh who cannot speak the language and are wondering how they will make it in this country.

“Most of the world will not approach this summer with hope. But that is why you are going. My challenge to you is to carry hope,” he said.

And using last year’s group of summer missionaries as an example, Stillwell offered this prediction: “They all returned tired, but they have all returned different.”

“God has a plan for each hour of your summer,” he continued.

In addition to the commissioning service, more than $1,200 was collected for the Emery E. Smith Fund allocated solely for collegiate missions.

In a commissioning prayer, Tracy Turner, Baptist collegiate minister in Spartanburg, presented the last verse of Acts as a challenge.

“Acts ends so awkwardly because the story is not over. The story still continues, the gospel is still spreading, and you are a part of that story this summer.”

 

2006 BCM Student Missionaries

Team South Asia (full summer)

Mallory Capps, Winthrop University

Brandon Dobson, USC-Columbia

Mary Shull, USC-Columbia

Carter Tippins, Anderson University

Brandi Witcher, Greenville Technical College

Audrey Witt, College of Charleston

 

Team Philippines (full summer)

Melanie Auckerman, Winthrop University

Liz Eckbreth, Anderson University

Lydia Hutto, Winthrop University

Brittany Morgan, USC-Columbia

 

International Scholarships (full summer)

Benjamin Beaver, Clemson University, West Africa

David Collier, The Citadel, East Asia

Cliff Daniels, The Citadel, East Asia

Logan Daigle, The Citadel, East Asia

Josh Dodson, The Citadel, Central and Eastern Europe

April Evans, Columbia College, Philippines

Dena Hodges, College of Charleston, South Asia

Alan Gay, Anderson University, South Asia

Melanie Pope, Winthrop University, West Africa

Jessica Powel, Lander University, Philippines

 

North America Scholarships (full summer)

Hallie Farmer, Winthrop University, Mississippi

Jessica Rasnake, Francis Marion University, New Orleans

 

Team Pittsburgh (full summer)

Lauren Davis, Anderson University

David Doan, USC-Columbia

Megan Griffith, Lander University

Cara Morgan, Furman University

Kristina Plunkett, Francis Marion University

 

Team Texas (full summer)

Rachel Curry, College of Charleston

Katie Dill, Winthrop University

Janel Donithan, Lander University

Roy Drum, Aiken Technical College

 

Connie Maxwell Children’s Home (full summer)

Tricia Howell, Anderson University

Maria Smith, Erskine College

 

Children’s Evangelism Traveling Team (full summer)

Heather Grace Brown, Francis Marion University

Mandy Godwin, Francis Marion University

 

New Orleans Hurricane Relief Team (short-term)

Collegiate minister team leader Kendal Danford

Matt Brown, Francis Marion University

Joedy Cook, Francis Marion University

Jenny Driggers, Francis Marion University

Gabe Felker, Florence-Darlington Technical College

Erin Gandy, Francis Marion University

Haynes Lewis, Trident Technical College

Robert Smith, Francis Marion University

Katie Todd, Francis Marion University