Texas Baptist Missions Foundation celebrates student ministry, capital campaign

Using the theme “What is God building?,” the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation (TBMF) celebrated the work of Baptist Student Ministries (BSM) around the state at its annual luncheon held Monday at Truett Seminary. The foundation also provided updates on its most recent project to construct a new BSM building at Baylor University.

“According to the Apostle Paul, (God) is building a kingdom, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone that’s in places where Jesus is King and where His ministry continues,” said Jerry Carlisle, TBMF president.

The next three speakers gave examples of how that ministry is happening at different Texas universities, sharing how having their own building has made an impact. Joel Bratcher, BSM director at Texas A&M for 20-plus years, spoke of how their facility, completed in 2001 with help from the foundation, has meant enlarged capacity for ministry. 

“Student ministry is incredibly important because it validates what they are hearing about God when they see it lived out by other students,” said Bratcher, noting their building is surrounded by bars and student housing. “We have a midnight pancake breakfast once a month on a Thursday night, and our students just sit down and talk with other students as they eat. You would be amazed at how those doors are opened for conversations.”

Eric Bean, director at the University of North Texas (UNT), noted that his own journey with BSM began as an A&M student, seeing the building on his campus commute and wanting to join the ministry.

“I think the buildings also offer an identity for our ministry. At UNT, it is one of the most strategic building locations on any of our campuses, and I’m so thankful for donors that made this possible,” noted Bean. “We are directly across from the Student Union Building, where around 6,000 students pass through every day. And it’s the largest bus stop on our campus, so about 5,000 students are dropped off for class right here.”

Bean said that location means more students drop in for lunches or other events and stay to build relationships, adding, “When we have our own space, it really does enhance the ability to do ministry.”

A similar phenomenon has happened at Texas Tech, where Jeff Kennon serves in the new facility completed in 2019 with help from the Missions Foundation. Tech BSM’s ministry to international students has been particularly growing thanks to increased space.

“The building has screamed to students that we are there for them, that we care and it looks like Texas Tech. Every week there are dozens of nationalities who come to our building, some that have never read the Bible. It’s the great commission in reverse; we just open our doors,” said Kennon. “I’m not sure we could have pulled off these events in our old building. Not only is it about them coming to us, it’s also a place where we send students all over the world. Our building is a gift because you made that happen.”

Following a video about the Baylor BSM project, Baylor BSM director Will Bowden spoke of the program’s growth in his seven years and the great need for a dedicated facility. The new building, which will be constructed at 4th and Daughtrey on Baylor’s campus thanks to a land gift from the university, costs $7 million total. Already, nearly $3.3 million has been raised and the Foundation has been awarded a $1.3 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation to be received when the remaining $2.4 million is collected. The facility will be owned by Texas Baptists, so they will have exclusive rights to its operation. 

“I sometimes sit and pinch myself when I look at what God is doing here. There was a revamp (of the BSM at Baylor) in 2017, and we’ve been seeing God work,” said Bowden. “God is doing amazing things through Gen Z, and revival has begun. About 50 percent of this campus has a spiritual pulse, and there are a lot of students who don’t know Jesus.”

Quoting Mark 3:14, Bowden said students are learning both how to be with God and how to be sent out to preach. They have also taken advantage of students’ love for prayer, hosting the FM72 emphasis with prayer tents on campus for 72 hours and seeing 3,000 to 4,000 students come through to worship and pray for hours.  A new ministry to freshmen, called Pathway, started with 50 students and had 410 attend this fall in its fifth year, comprising 12% of the freshman class.

The new building, Bowden said, will help accommodate the various leadership trainings that the current space simply won’t handle due to growth. 

“We often have to find space on campus and compete with everything else. We have a lot of leaders and sometimes we don’t get access. God still works, and he is moving, but I don’t know what it’s like to have a building for this ministry,” he said, noting that his first year of ministry had 14 student leaders, while this current year the number has passed 200.

Wrapping up the event, TBMF Vice President Eric Wyatt encouraged support for the ministries that have a ripple effect across the world.

“God is moving on college campuses across our state,” said Wyatt. “BSM changes lives across the world. So, thank you for being here and supporting these projects. This building will be made a reality by a movement of God’s people.”