This year, a record 83 South Carolina Baptist Collegiate Ministry students are serving as summer missionaries all around the world – from Swaziland – to Alaska – to Greenwood.
Elizabeth McWhite, right, a member of Wellford Church and a student at North Greenville University, is serving this summer in Swaziland in southern Africa along with five other BCM students from South Carolina. They are providing True Love Waits and HIV/AIDS education.“The vision of Baptist Collegiate Ministry is to make lifelong disciples of Jesus who impact the world with the gospel,” said Ken Owens, state BCM director. “We are humbled to see how God is working in this generation of students to call them in record numbers to give their summer to share Jesus with the world.”
Why the uptick in participation? “We really do believe it is a God thing,” Owens said. “Personally, I believe it is because we have placed a specific emphasis on prayer for spiritual awakening on our campuses, beginning with our leadership weekend in April 2010, and continuing with prayerwalks on campuses throughout the school year.”
Markia Randle is the first BCM student missionary from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. She is serving at Baptist Children’s Home in Oklahoma City. “This summer I am learning how many people desire to know Christ,” she said, reflecting on the first half of her term. “Often we prepare for rejection when sharing the gospel, but the Lord works on the hearts of people and guides us to say and do what he wants. Words cannot express how much of an honor and blessing it is to be a part of God’s mission.”
Jonathan Chisholm, pastor of Jasper Place Baptist Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, received a team of four students last summer and is working again this year with a team of three.
“God fashioned and sent us just the team we needed,” he said. “They have godly character, are helpful, work really well together, take initiative when needed, and are very willing to help out in any way they can. Our church family has already fallen in love with them.”
Reh Harvey, a student from the College of Charleston, said, “The best part about serving on missions, especially in Swaziland, is to see the hope and love of God that we are instilling in these children. By showing them that true love waits, we are not only helping to conquer the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but also empowering the kids to be a generation devoted to Christ. God is doing big and amazing things here in Swaziland.”
Chelsey, left, a student from USC-Upstate, is serving as a summer missionary in South Asia.Lander University student Rachel Satterfield, who is serving in California, said, “Whether God is working in my own heart or the hearts of those around me, seeing him light up a life, and me being able to witness that moment, is indescribably rewarding.”
BCM summer missions is made possible through a combination of funds: those that BCMs around the state raise throughout the year, Cooperative Program funds, and contributions to the Janie Chapman Offering for State Missions.
Harvey, like his peers, is grateful. “I’ve wanted to serve in Africa for probably the last five years, and BCM made that possible. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. Before getting involved with BCM, I thought going to Africa was just another dream of mine, but BCM made that dream a reality. To God be the glory.” – SCBC
Haley Vickery, a Lander University student; Brittany Watson, summer activities director at Oklahoma Baptist Home for Children; and Markia Randle, a South Carolina State University student, show off their “pie faces” they earned from the children at the end of a scavenger hunt.