FBC Clarendon disciples community college students and equips them to be leaders in the church

First Baptist Church Clarendon sits right across the street from Clarendon Community College. Lance Wood, pastor of FBC Clarendon, said the church’s unique location to the college “affords us to have a pretty strong, continuous” ministry. 

Wood said the church has partnered with West Texas A&M University Baptist Student Ministry (WTAMU BSM) to provide opportunities for their college students to be involved in the campus ministry, including attending retreats and participating in mission trips such as Beach Reach, a trip where hundreds of college students join together on spring break to share the gospel of Jesus with those they encounter along South Padre Island as they meet their physical needs for food and transportation.

He said the students have been encouraged by seeing students on other campuses following Jesus. 

“We've been able to give our students some encounters outside of Clarendon, and it's been good for them,” said Wood. “One time we went to Wayland [Baptist University] to a worship service and [the students said] ‘We're not the only students that are trying to follow Jesus!’ It was encouraging to them.”

Taking opportunities to invest in college students

FBC Clarendon has also been investing in students through hosting weekly college worship nights on Wednesdays and ‘Adopt a Student,’ an opportunity for church members to disciple college students. 

Wood said having church members serve the students in these ways helps the church create a family environment. 

“[Investing in the students] also helps our church to see that the world is bigger than just what we see. We get to experience students that come in and worship, and then they worship a little bit different than us because of their culture and heritage,” said Wood. “So, I think it's mutually beneficial for both [the] church and college [students].”

He said they have seen students continually return to FBC Clarendon over the years as a result of the hospitality they’ve received and that the church has benefitted from learning how to disciple students and share the gospel with them. 

“We want them to know Jesus a little bit better when they leave than when they came [and] we also model the hospitality of Jesus. But I think the students appreciate authenticity and genuineness … Another thing that we've noticed in the last few years is how engaged our college students have become,” said Wood.

He said the students have started stepping up to give the devotionals for their Wednesday worship nights.

 “They've been engaged and really giving thoughtful lessons,” said Wood. “Not only that, they wanted to be engaged in our Sunday morning worship service.”

Inspired by the students’ eagerness to engage, FBC Clarendon began holding a college-led Sunday morning once a semester, where the students get an opportunity to take ownership of their gifts and abilities in ministry, ranging from greeting to preaching.

“That's really been a blessing to see. It's kind of hurtful because we only have them for two years. But we feel like we're training them to be leaders wherever they go,” said Wood. 

Receiving the blessing

Wood said it is important for churches to “disciple the next generation” because they are "looking for something that they're not finding in the world.” He said the church has an opportunity to “equip the church and create leaders for the future.”

Wood encouraged churches that if they will “demonstrate the love of Jesus” to their college students, both parties will end up being blessed by the experience.

“You’ve got to spend time with students, number one, and number two, you've got to be authentic and genuine. [You] have to meet them where they are and be okay with where they are,” said Wood. “You've got to invest in their lives. The thing about it is, if you do that, you find out it's a blessing to them and it's a part of the discipleship process, but it's more so a blessing to you. You end up receiving the blessing.”

For more information about how your church can serve college students or connect them to campus ministries, visit txb.org/collegiate.