Collegiate missionaries stepped into leadership, missions, and service this summer

by Julia Haggard, Baptist Collegiate Missionary

 

Last issue, I introduced the Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) Residency—the leadership pathway Arjay Gruspe, HPBC’s Director of NextGen Ministries, launched in 2024 to develop young leaders theologically, sharpen them as leaders, and mobilize them for mission. This summer, that pathway moved from the classroom to the field.

Baptist Collegiate Ministries sent three teams out of Hawaii—to Seattle, Flagstaff, and the Navajo Nation, and to Portugal—and, for the first time, campus missionaries and staff led all of them. Arjay describes it as “Equipping next generations to lead mission trips by training them, meeting with them, and then sending them to lead in an unfamiliar context. One campus missionary staff member ran pre-trip training for all three teams. Follow-up is happening now, so what students learned this summer is becoming part of their character and ministry this fall.

Twelve more students and campus missionaries went to Collegiate Week in Oklahoma, joining 1,700 students and leaders from across the country. They returned home connected and ready for the semester.

There were salvations this summer, local churches were strengthened, and young leaders now know what it costs and what it yields to lead others on mission. The momentum continued as a BCM team from Louisiana Tech arrived on August 20 to serve during Welcome Week.

Please pray for these students as classes begin and for the campus missionaries and residents who will disciple them.

Collegiate Week: August 2-6	Arizona: July 21 – August 1
Portugal: July 19 – August 1	Seattle: June 15 – 26