If one word could be used to describe today’s college students, perhaps “relational” would be a good place to start.
Worship leaders “Caedmon’s Call.”This year’s theme for Converge, an annual conference sponsored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention for college students around the state, homed in on God’s plan for various relationships.
“Our prayer for the conference was to help college students discover God’s design for right relationships. Obviously, the first and primary relationship is the one we can have with God through Jesus Christ. And our relationship with God and his word impacts and informs all the other relationships we experience,” said Ken Owens, director of the collegiate ministry group.
And the ripples from the weekend have spilled out into the lives of those who attended.
“It has been amazing how I have been able to share so much information with people who knew I was going or people who asked what I did this weekend,” said recent college graduate Kendra Middleton.
The more than 600 students in attendance also had the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions on topics such as prayer, apologetics, dating, divorce, missions, Internet relationships and homosexuality.
The conference also included gender-specific group time. Conference speaker Maria Owens shared John 15:9-17 with the ladies and encouraged them to be the standard-setters in their relationships.
“Ask yourself, ‘How am I doing in living up to my standards for other people?'” Owens said.
Owens, who also shared her testimony with the large group, encouraged the women to be influential to others.
“Don’t be afraid to share, be open and let people in,” she said.
“Please get to know Jesus,” said speaker Perry Noble, pastor of New Spring Church in Anderson. “It is the most important relationship you will have.”
Addressing the topics of marriage and dating, Noble encouraged participants to be students of scripture foremost.
“Success in marriage follows surrender to scripture,” Noble said. “I have never counseled a couple whose marriage fell apart after opening the word of God.”
During the weekend, students were also encouraged to think about serving in missions and evangelism opportunities overseas and in other parts of North America this summer.
Attendees also collected the Emery E. Smith Offering, named for the previous director of SCBC collegiate ministry. This year, $1,858 was given, marking the highest offering received at the annual gathering. The money is used to reach Muslim college students in South Asia with the gospel.