On Nov. 10, Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Tech’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries led nearly 150 students in worship and acknowledging the persecuted church.
Kendal Danford, campus minister for both campuses, said, “We wanted our students to get a sense of the persecuted church in the world. We also wanted them to have an opportunity to put their faith into action.”
Students were shown a video, “The Underground Reality” which showed in great detail the persecutions of the church in Colombia, South America. The video also told of a parachute ministry that drops Bibles, radios and other religious materials into surrounding villages and camps that are often occupied by paramilitary or guerilla fighters.
Timothy Laurent, a student who attended the worship service, said, “I knew there was Christian persecution around the world, but I had no idea to what extent. I think the night had a haunting aura to it.”
After the video, the students were allowed to participate in making their own parachutes. The 120 parachutes were mailed to Colombia and will be dropped to more villages that need the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Katelyn Poston, a sophomore at Francis Marion University, said, “It was amazing to see college students unite in prayer and service to see others around the world come to know Christ as their Savior.”
It was powerful to stand in that hushed room and realize that with each sound of a sewing machine, one more soul could be won for Christ.
– Parsons, a college student, is active in Baptist Campus Ministries.