North Greenville University
Baptist Collegiate Ministry worship nights give North Greenville University students a chance to rest and worship as their busy week comes to an end.
North Greenville University
'Know. Grow. Go." This is NGU campus ministry's mission.
Thursday evening, as the bell tower rang seven startling times, Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) at North Greenville University kicked off the first worship night of the semester. Returning students and several alumni were present along with the new faces of freshmen and transfer students. Brandy Amidon, the Mayor of Travelers Rest, Brandy also attended.
Many students were there for the first time. Freshman Hannah Rodgers said her first BCM was a positive experience. She said that as she worshiped with other students, she felt “the presence of God surging through the room” and that she left feeling refreshed with friends that had become “a newfound family.”
Mary Garcia, a junior, started coming to BCM as a freshman, attracted to the sense of community and that the students who attended BCM wanted to come. They weren’t there for school credit. Garcia leads the BCM worship team. She shared her excitement about the band introducing different styles of worship and said that she hopes all people will “feel welcome no matter their style of worship.”
Tansy Pocernich, a junior, said BCM is “a group of people who aren’t just going to sit in their seats,” but who are “trying and wanting to be involved.”
Joshua Gilmore, BCM director and the first speaker of the semester, reminded the students that their responsibility and privilege as a family of Christ followers is not simply to sit in the stands but to be players on the field. He encouraged his listeners to live out a whole-hearted pursuit of Christ by being “servants” instead of “spectators.” He presented sign-ups for several ministry opportunities in the community around campus and beyond.
BCM worship nights give students a chance to rest and worship as their busy week comes to an end, but these Thursday nights are just the beginning. BCM is not a club, but a community. Gilmore said this community is “a force to be reckoned with” that seeks to spread the kingdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. No one is excluded, everyone is welcome, no matter their denomination or background.
Commuters, residents, grad-students, dual-enrolled, and part-time students are all encouraged to attend. BCM is open to NGU staff as well. High school seniors are encouraged to see firsthand what God is doing at NGU by participating in a BCM gathering on a Thursday night. Everyone who comes has the chance to be a part of what God is doing at NGU and to serve alongside the BCM family in advancing the Kingdom of God.
"Know. Grow. Go." This is NGU campus ministry's mission. We believe that college students must know what they believe, grow in their relationships with Christ and others, and go, in serving people and sharing the gospel. If the first Thursday night of the semester was any indication, BCM is on the right track to fulfilling this mission.