Why Church?

Of of our main objectives as the BCM is to connect students to the local church. The BCM is a student led ministry, so tonight we will have a panel of students answering these 9 questions about college students and the local church. I'm excited to hear their responses and may blog about it in the future. I will also look at scripture's view of these essential questions in light of the cultural trends of college students. 


1. Why do so many college students NOT go to church?
2. Why is the local church important to you?
3. What advice would you give the college student who says I can worship God in my dorm?
4. What does it mean for a college student to be INVOLVED in church?
5. Why be a church member? Can't i just participate?
6. What are good reasons to look for another church?
7. What are some WRONG reasons to go to church?
8. What is the most important quality you look for in a church?
9. How can we balance BCM and Church life?


So invite a friend and come experience an incredible time tonight! I know I'm really looking forward to hearing collegians respond to these questions! 

Your First 100 Days As BCM Director: Via Linda Osborne

1. Pierce the culture of your campus

2. Develop a specialized freshmen ministry

3. Help connect the church to the campus and the campus to the church

4. Strengthen your students as leaders

5. Emphasize strong weekly programs that develop students spiritually

6. Meet the needs of specific students on campus

7. Assist students in making life decisions

8 Guide students to live a missional life

What Determines If Students Will Connect? Just One Word

The end of the first month of the Fall semester is upon us and there is lots of evaluation to do.  Lots of names and info cards to follow up on; however, evaluating ministry efforts can be frustrating because we have 3-4 times the info cards than actual students who come to any given event. That’s a retention rate of 25-35%. I’m not here to diagnose the reasons for that retention or point out the variety of factors; that may be a later post.  However, I do want to address the one thing that inevitably connects students. To make it simple, it’s only one word…ACCEPTANCE… Simply put, glitzy promotional tools and a cool atmosphere may be inviting, but what connects students is whether or not they feel accepted once they experience a particular ministry. Accepting students is the most important component for a ministry committed to the Great Commission because acceptance leads to influence.  And we don’t want students to be accepted by those who will influence them negatively. 

I told our inner circle of BCM leaders yesterday that we, as leadership, exist to accept those who have not yet been accepted so we can harness acceptance for influence. Namely, influence for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

All throughout Scripture, Jesus accepted to influence... Why shouldn't we?

If we don't accept you, we aren't being faithful to our fundamental beliefs. No matter who you are are where you've been, we have a place for you!

As I write this, I'm listening to 50 or so Chinese students singing in Mandarin in our building... and the Moon Festival doesn't start till 6:00. I don't know what they are saying, singing, eating, or dancing (I've never seen anyone breakdance like that)... All I know is that they are ACCEPTED!

Praying for influence...

9/11 and The 5 Life Truths I Learned That Day

1. Security can’t be found in a Nation, but in God:
1. If I am real honest, the morning I woke up in Senatobia, Ms on September 11, 2001, I felt like America, myself, and my world was indestructible; A 19 year old kid had no reason to think otherwise. However, after watching the towers fall, I realized that America is not as safe as the America I had previously experienced. My Hope could not be in a nation; but in God. He has promised the only security we can find in this world. 

1. What provides humanity a sense of morality “religion”, can be held hostage and leveraged for evil:
1. This is one of the first paradoxes I experienced. I can remember studying a proof of God’s existence through innate morality in philosophy 101 in the fall of 2001. Little did I know the greatest tool evil uses is religion itself. September 11, 2001 taught me that man was capable of evil more that I could ever think or imagine; the depravity of man was inarguably evident in this new world. 

1. The only Hope we have during uncertain and difficult time is in God through prayer:
1. While I was struggling with all of the “why” questions for God, I knew that He was the only person to provide humanity with Hope and Healing. The evening of 9.11.01, our campus called for a campus-wide prayer. It was in those moments of prayer that I felt comfort, community, and hope for the future. Where else can this be found? It felt Good to be huddled praying together on a public campus in America; we were unified with a common purpose. And completely trusting in the only hope we had that night...Divine guidance.

1. The worlds problems are much larger than the ones we experience: 
1. This truth is hauntingly comforting because we are not alone in our suffering; someone else is experiencing just as much or more pain than we are. My greatest concern on September 11, 2001 was worrying about failing my chemistry class. Little did I know the battery operated radio my professor pulled out of her desk would deliver news that would change America forever. The world’s problems were much larger than the world I experienced at that time. I finally realized that God had a specific plan for me to make a difference in the world that He has created for me.

      1. If the eternity you envision is wrong, you will be shocked when you die. 

                    a. Much like the terrorists believed, i believe everyone spends forever somewhere. Unlike the terrorists, I don't believe they are experiencing the women of paradise right now; eternity is too long to get religion and spirituality wrong.