MOLINO–“The field is ready for the harvest,” said Phil Fischer, pastor, Dogwood Park Baptist Church Molino, as he spoke to more than 300 students, parents and community members at the Fields of Faith event held at nearby Northview High School.

The event, sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, encourages athletes and others to study the Bible, pray, build the church, and use their spheres of influence to encourage one another with the Word of truth.

This year, attendees heard a powerful message from Fischer that tied into the school and community’s agricultural roots of farming and being ready for the harvest.

The youth band from Walnut Hill Baptist Church led worship songs, and several students gave testimonies about the work of Jesus Christ in their lives.

“This event emboldens students to see that it is OK to be visible about their faith,” said Fischer. “They come away energized and ready to live out their faith in front of their friends.”

Six students at the event made professions of faith. Each was connected to a youth pastor at one of the local churches, including Dogwood Park Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Bratt, and Highland Baptist Church, for follow up and discipleship.

The event concluded with student-led prayer as attendees stood hand-in-hand circling the football field, a show of unity and solidarity in faith.

“This event was once seen as a youth-only event, but it has become more well-attended throughout the community,” said Ted Bridges, pastor, Walnut Hill Baptist Church. “The spiritual move in the youth across the country is reaching all ages, and in our area, this event helps quicken people to live out their faith boldly among their peers.”

GAINESVILLE–When college students arrive at Baptist Collegiate Ministries at University of Florida each year, they learn quickly about the opportunities for international mission trips.

It is actually a stated goal, said Eddie Gilley, who has been the BCM director there since 2002.

“We want every student to spend two weeks of their college career in a cross-cultural environment sharing Jesus,” he said. “We have a pretty robust plan for that.”

It’s their robust plan that has helped make them tops in the nation in sending short-term missionaries on international trips through the International Mission Board.

The UF BCM sends out 18 to 24 students each year on mission trips, the majority of those traveling in small groups for six-to-eight-week trips during the summer. For example, 18 of the students participated in the longer six-to-eight week trips this past school year, while six did a short-term trip.

“It’s usually somewhere in a difficult environment. We typically let other people go to the easy places,” Gilley said. “We challenge our students to go to places where evangelism might mean just moving boulders out of the way. You might not even get to plant a seed; you’re just moving rocks, moving barriers from people to even hear the gospel.”

The teams typically go to cities in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe. In the past they’ve gone to China, Turkey, Japan, Africa and even Australia. “Other than Antarctica, we have sent a team to every continent,” Gilley said.

Planning, training and raising funds

John, who asked that his real name not be used, is a former UF BCM student who now coordinates all of their mission trips, which includes vision-tripping for future trips as well as communicating with current long-term missionaries around the world and

assessing their need for assistance from college students.

Working with the IMB, the organization sends students to assist current missionaries who are already working with college students in their countries. This makes it easy for BCM students to go on college campuses and use English as a platform, teaching English or offering conversational English opportunities to other students and forming friendships, which can lead to gospel conversations.

“This is a lot of entry-level evangelism and discipleship,” John said. “Everything is geared toward building relationships with lost people. Students can be a seed to those who are interested and leave those relationships with the long-term workers to follow up with.”

All students who sign up for the summer trips go through extensive training to prepare them for the mission field, including evangelism training, missions education and general church doctrine studies. They also learn about sharing across language and cultural barriers, contextualization issues, security issues and border patrol. The goal is to have them ready to work before they leave so no extra time is needed once they reach the mission field.

“By the time these students get to the field, they have already failed so many times that they’re really well-prepared,” John said. “They have failed in a safe constructive environment, and the hope would be that training is harder than the actual thing. We want them to seamlessly fit into the long-term strategy and be a blessing not a burden, and not a security risk.”

Several years ago the training helped a team that got stuck in the Singapore airport for five days when they were unable to get to their destination. “They had to find a hotel and try to work everything out, and they had to do it onsite,” Gilley said. “It’s like ‘Amazing Race’ for Jesus, you know. That’s kind of what they had to do to get there.”

In addition to the training, each team member sends out about 100 mission support letters to help raise funds for their trip. With a goal of about $4,500 per person, they are raising a total of about $100,000 each year. While some individuals may not make their goal, each team has always been successful.

The right time to go

Going on mission trips during your college years is the best time to go, Gilley said, as students are more independent from their parents, don’t have a career yet and have the freedom to travel.

“There is no other time in their lives when they are going to have the freedom to be able to go like they do in college. It’s the perfect time to utilize them, to encourage our mission force around the world and to change their perspective,” Gilley said.

And gaining a new perspective about mission work is huge as it impacts the way the students see missions for the rest of their lives, especially those who have experienced the longer trips.

“What we know is not every student who goes will go long term, but every student who goes will come back different. They will always know what it’s like whenever they hear Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions stories in their church. It means something else to them because they know someone who benefits from that on the field. They know what it’s like to be in a place where you toil for the gospel day in and day out and may not see anyone come to faith in years. But they are still faithfully there and faithfully serving.”

From a student perspective, John said the biggest obstacles that keep many from committing to these missions are their academic careers – as in time away from completing courses and internships – and their parents, especially Christian parents who either forbid their students to go or convince them into coming home for the summer and doing something safer, like working at camp.

“Parents are well meaning, but unfortunately they can often be obstacles to their students doing what God wants them to do,” he said. “Often the students are more motivated to go than their families are.”

‘Put your yes on the table’

Being named tops in sending students on mission is humbling, Gilley said, because there is so much more to be done around the globe. “We could send thousands, and it would still not be enough as the need is great all around the world.”

Gilley said BCM students are always challenged to say yes to serving God on mission, whether that means being part of one of their GO teams overseas, going on a short-term trip with their local church, staying in the U.S. and supporting others, or serving long term in another country.

“Put your yes on the table and let God say where, when and for how long,” he said. “If you’re willing to say yes, God will direct where you’re supposed to go.”

“I was walking the line between the world and Jesus,” Soph said. “But God used UM to grow my faith in ways I never expected.”

At a Christian campus event early in her first semester, she heard a student leader say, “College isn’t just about not losing your faith; it’s about growing it.” That insight shifted her perspective, and soon she was fully engaged with Baptist Campus Ministries and CRU.

Andrew Fernandez, director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Miami, explained, “Part of the mission statement at the Miami BCM is that it exists for college students to know Jesus and be known by His people. One of the ways we do this is through intentional relational discipleship in the campus ministry and at our local churches.”

Shulse’s story reflects that approach. “When Soph arrived as a freshman, she immediately connected with some of the ladies at the BCM who began to pour into her life,” Fernandez said. “She also got connected to Reality Church where they share the passion to reach and care for college students.”

As her involvement deepened, so did her conviction. In December, Shulse took a bold step and was baptized alongside her best friend. “I’d been baptized as a Catholic,” she said, “but this was different. It was about letting my old self die. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Fernandez added, “The Lord worked in Soph’s heart to bring her to the place of publicly professing her faith in Christ through believer’s baptism. Since then, Soph has had the opportunity to serve in the church, go on missions trips, and join the Miami BCM student leadership team.”

The baptism was more than symbolic. It marked a turning point—one that led her directly onto the mission field.

Over the spring semester, Shulse said “yes” to two mission trips: one to Panama with CRU’s Filter of Hope program, installing water filters and sharing the gospel; the other to the Dominican Republic with her church, Reality Miami, to support missionaries working across a variety of ministries, including women’s outreach, education and sports.

Despite being a new believer and a full-time pre-health student, she pressed forward. “I felt like a baby Christian,” she admitted. “But being in those environments showed me that obedience is more important than feeling ready. Just saying ‘yes’ to God—He shows up.”

The mission work wasn’t easy. It stretched her spiritually, emotionally and physically. “Serving while burned out from school wasn’t ideal,” she said. “But God used that time to refresh my soul in ways I didn’t expect.”

Back in South Carolina for summer break, Shulse continues living on mission. She shares her testimony to challenge cultural Christianity, telling friends that following Christ isn’t a Sunday routine—it’s a surrendered life.

Her encouragement to other students is simple: be available. “You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just say ‘yes.’ Like my pastor said, you’ll either look back and say, ‘I wish I had,’ or ‘I’m glad I did.’ And I want to live a life full of ‘glad I dids.’”

Biblical studies show us that God considers children to be very important.  Proverbs 22:6 directs us to “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old , he will not depart from it.”  Jesus impelled even the youngest children to be brought to Him.  Mark 10:16 states “And He (Jesus) took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.”   Jesus mentioned children 205 times in the Bible.

He took time with children.

He spoke to children.

He held children.

He made children feel important.

If Jesus made children such a high priority, it must be important for us today to treat children as Jesus did.

Interactions of a child in a loving and Christ-centered church setting can greatly impact the spiritual development of the child for a lifetime.  Being surrounded by sights and sounds and music that glorifies God can leave an eternal imprint on the life of a child.

So why is volunteer recruitment one of the top issues for KidMin Directors today?  We all know that eager and reliable volunteers can be difficult to find and at times even more difficult to keep.  That is why you need to develop a culture of excitement and enthusiasm in your ministry and not just hours to be served.

Show people that serving in Kids Ministry is an incredible opportunity to develop Christ followers.  Look for all ages, men and women, older and younger.

By recruiting in person, you can communicate the service opportunities and expectations and invite them to join your team.  When approaching a potential volunteer, enthusiastically share your passion for the ministry so they can catch your enthusiasm.

Ask a volunteer to “join a team.”  People don’t need another job, but they do need a place to belong.  Being a volunteer presents an opportunity to build community.  Create an environment where volunteers can know, care for and encourage one another.

Refrain from recruiting through need or guilt-tripping.  Often these recruits are just there out of obligation or just “filling a hole”.  A better way to recruit is surrounding yourself with people who share your passion to help children grow in their faith.  Don’t be afraid to ask people to serve but be prepared to explain what is involved.  Present volunteering as an opportunity to invest in the spiritual growth of a child.  It’s not that people do not want to serve, they want to know their service will make a difference.  They want to know if their time spent is a good investment.  Instead of babysitting children while their parents go to worship, we are investing in times of intentional discipleship.  We want to help children grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and know how he loves them and cares for them.

Building  relationships is a key factor for volunteers in Children’s Ministry.  Many times, people serve because someone they had a relationship with brought up the opportunity and asked them to serve.  The more people you connect with, the more possible volunteers you will have later.  Most often people do not know where to look to serve if they do not know there is a need.  As you encounter opportunities to share your passion and excitement about your ministry, mention your awesome team and the positive things being accomplished in the lives of the children and the workers/volunteers.

Appreciate the volunteers you have.  You can show appreciation through words of appreciation or small gifts  and cards.  To appreciate someone is to recognize his or her contribution and value.  When we appreciate our volunteers we are recognizing what they have done.  People need to feel that their hard work and dedication matters and we notice their efforts.  Let them know you recognize them not only for what they do but for who they are.  As a director, be visible.  Pop your head in the room, speak to teachers and children.  Greet them by name.  Let them see that you respect and appreciate them. Get to know your volunteers and pray for them.

Lastly and most importantly, DO NOT NEGLECT PRAYER.  Jesus understands our struggles in recruitment.  He says in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.

Hundreds of students were running away from campus. Then he saw law enforcement vehicles heading toward campus at breakneck speeds.

“I knew something serious was happening and I couldn’t leave,” he said.

He learned there was an active shooting incident occurring on campus. He did not yet know an FSU student had opened fire about 11:50 a.m. that day, killing two people and injuring six others.

Sproles, who has been director of FSU’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries since 2018, quickly called the BCM student president and told her to barricade herself and any other students in a back room at the center, “the most secure room we have,” as he made his way back to the location less than a “tenth of a mile” from where the shooting took place.

With six students secure in a back room, Sproles stepped out to assess the situation. Standing outside the room where the students were barricaded, Sproles said, “In the unlikely event that something would happen, I wanted to be between them and whatever” happened.

“Quite truthfully, it was pandemonium on campus,” he said. Rumors were still flying at the time and no one was sure how many shooters there were or what else might be happening. With the FSU Police Department located next door, Sproles watched as more law enforcement officials arrived, some in tactical gear walking about with guns in their hands.

“I was very thankful to see all the law enforcement respond so quickly. It was impressive. It was a blessing to have them there and to know they were working so hard to protect our students.”

The massive presence of law enforcement officers eased some of Sproles’ concerns but also underscored the severity of what was happening on campus.

“This was really serious. I knew I needed to get these students out of this building and far away from campus,” he said. “That was really all I could think about: ‘How do we protect these students?’”

As he saw officers head inside, Sproles felt like it was the time to escort the students safely off campus. He instructed the students to exit the front door and head right, running as fast as they could to a nearby Publix in a shopping center, less than a mile away near off-campus housing. He told them, “I’m right here with you. I’m right behind you.”

“It was fast moments,” he said. “You do the best you can; I just wanted to keep my students safe. That was my primary objective. I need to get them home tonight, get them off campus.”

Everyone made it safely to the nearby Publix, and he bought some food and water for the students.

The students in the group, he said, “were shaken as you can imagine. They wanted to get as far away as they could from the university.”

Being the ‘hands and feet of Christ’

About the same time Sproles discovered that one of the students in the group had his truck in a nearby parking garage, he received a text message from Fayez Ayoub, lead pastor at North Florida Baptist Church. Ayoub asked how he could help, and Sproles asked if the students could take refuge at the church; Ayoub quickly agreed. Students scrambled into the truck, and once they arrived at North Florida Baptist Church, the pastor and Sproles “prayed with the students, ministered to them.” The church “became a rallying point for some of our students,” he said.

After the shooter had been apprehended and the campus was secure, Sproles and several students returned to the BCM center. Pastors from the area joined them there and began to minister to the students. Sproles posted a message on social media, inviting any students to stop by the center if they needed prayer or someone to talk to.

“We had some students coming in who just wanted to be with people,” he said. “They needed to talk and process what had happened and to pray. The needs were different. They were very much aware of their need for each other and the value of life. It was a good moment for our students to see the body of Christ desiring to serve them and love them at that moment. It’s a big deal,” Sproles said.

“It was an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ in a very simple but, I think, important way.”

Sensed ‘God’s presence’

As news got out about the event, Sproles said he had calls and texts from area pastors and others who serve with the Florida Baptist Convention, checking on him, praying over him, offering encouragement and asking how they could help serve.

“A unique part of what we do as Florida Baptists is our network of churches and how we band together, especially in difficult moments,” he said.

During the chaos of the unfolding tragedy, Sproles said he didn’t take time to look at his phone. Later, when he did see the messages, he was encouraged by the prayers and support.

“It was very much felt and so needed at the time. I felt God’s presence protecting us and our students,” Sproles said.

Moving forward, Sproles said he, along with area pastors and other church leaders, will gather to pray and discuss how they can minister to students, “how we can make ourselves available to these students.”

‘God intervened’

Reflecting on the life and death moments of April 17, Sproles shared that he had planned to be on campus having lunch with a student in the same area and around the same time of the shooting incident.

“I walk there several times a week to eat lunch,” he said. “But God intervened on this day. The student said he had to go study for a test. He never says no to a free lunch. It was God protecting us, and I am so thankful for God’s protection.”

In the hours after the shooting, Sproles and the student came face to face. “We had a moment,” Sproles said. “We were both in awe of God’s provision for us.”

This is an important ministry issue to me as 22 year youth ministry veteran, former public educator, and as the dad of a teenage boy who lives with multiple learning disabilities. I am currently working towards an Ed.D. at SWBTS where I get to continue exploring the intersection of learning disabilities and practical theology.

The themes of caring for the lowly are interspersed throughout the whole counsel of God’s Word. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 that whatever is done for the least of these is done for Him. Students who struggle with routine tasks because of a disability could very quickly be considered the “least of these” that Jesus says. This verse magnifies the investigation considering Psalm 139:13-14. God has remarkably and wonderfully created people with learning disabilities. These verses tell us God is the author of each person’s specific creation and saw their purpose before their birth. Disabled people can and will be used by God to bring Him honor and glory in the church, education, and society. This view of creation leads teachers to acknowledge that every student is a precious creation of God with a purpose, especially those with learning disabilities.

Youth pastors are called to shepherd and care for students, including those with learning disabilities. This calling to educate others for the glory of God does not discriminate when it comes to disabilities. God created humanity and called parents and youth leaders to disciple the next generation, which means that despite disability, all people can learn.

Jesus confronts societal beliefs about disability. God has created those with learning disabilities to bring himself honor so that His works will be on display for the world to see. This idea is the same that Jesus espouses in John 9:1-2 when answering the disciples concerning why a man was born blind. The man was able to testify in John 9:13-34 to the Pharisees about the miraculous work Jesus had done in his life through his disability. How do we, as youth pastors, help our students to be able to view disability in this way, as a blessing with Jesus working through them rather than a curse?

Teenagers often struggle with “executive function.” This is even more pronounced among students with learning disabilities. Executive function is defined as how to do the proper thing at the proper time in the proper way. Because all teenagers struggle in this area, it can be difficult to know who has learning disabilities because they usually are invisible and unseen until someone makes it known. Those with learning disabilities can be easily overwhelmed by life, and processing sensory input in areas such as…

• a crowd of people

• the number of things to look at on the wall in a room

• the emotions they feel at a given time

• too many people talking at once

Best Practices in Ministry to Students With Learning Disabilities

1. Don’t put them in the spotlight without their permission. For example, a person with dyslexia fears being put on the spot to read aloud. They don’t want their learning disability to be front and center until they feel comfortable with everyone in the room. However, when they are ready and willing to talk about what Jesus has done in their life, like the formerly blind man in John 9, give them opportunities to do so. Champion them for who they are. Give them space to lead, think differently, and excel at what they are good at.

2. Expect them to do things you don’t consider normal. Students with learning disabilities will do, act, and say abnormal things. They will get emotionally overwhelmed in situations that you think are odd. What is normal, or neurotypical, for you is not the way that a neurodiverse brain chooses to respond to a problem. Train your leaders, other students, and yourself to recognize this, celebrate unity and diversity, and to love them through it. You and your leaders can set the example for other students in how to respond in these situations.

3. Make changes where you can. Every learning disability is different. Loving these students means we are willing to make changes to accommodate them. Reduce visual stimulation, allow students to move around the back of the room when you are preaching/teaching, educate yourselves about what learning disabilities are (https://ldaamerica.org is a great starting point), and be willing to show students with learning disabilities that you love them not only in word but also in deed by considering their spiritual development significant enough to make changes for them. If you’re not sure where to start, try asking students’ parents for their input based off what’s been helpful in other settings.

4. Love them (even if you do not understand them). They want someone to love them and walk beside them through life. They want a Paul that says, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” They don’t need you to diagnose them, but they will notice if you make changes. These changes mean you notice them and love them enough to make the environment as welcoming as possible.

For Further Reading

Amos Yong, The Bible, Disability, and the Church: A New Vision of the People of God (2011)

Lamar Hardwick, Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion (2021)

Check out this list by the Rooted Ministry: Resources for Enfolding Youth With Disabilities Into Your Ministry

This article was originally published on Youth Pastor Theologian.

This is an article about Scripture memory, so what does that have to do with the beach? Imagine standing on the beach and looking out at the waves. How much is the ocean physically impacting you? It is inspiring and beautiful, but it isn’t truly impacting you. Now, imagine if you go out waist deep into the ocean. The ocean is beginning to move you around. Finally, imagine being neck deep in the ocean. Now, the ocean is really having an impact.

The impact God’s Word will have on our lives depends on how deeply we are immersed in it. There is perhaps no greater way to experience that level of involvement with the Word of God than committing key verses and passages to memory.

The Bible is clear that we should strive to meditate on Scripture:

“Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,
And on His Law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Psalm 1:1-3

The one who meditates on the Word will be blessed in all that they do:

• Business pursuits
• Educational pursuits
• Marriage
• Parenting
• Ministry
• Personal Finances
• Relationships

What does it mean to meditate? It means to ponder, to think about deeply, to ruminate on something. Meditation helps move the Word from our head to our hearts. There is a close connection between meditation and memorization. As you engage in the process of memorizing Scripture, the Word can transform your life and character.

Here are six practical reasons why Scripture memory is so important:

1. Scripture Memory Equips Us For The Spiritual Battles We Face In Life

Scripture memory has probably impacted my life more than any other spiritual discipline, and I have found that it is a great tool for discipling college students. There are so many thought patterns and philosophies that are competing for the minds of students. Their minds need to be transformed by the Word of God.

We can use memorized verses to address specific struggles we may be facing. For example, if you are dealing with fear, memorize some key verses on fear, if you are dealing with anger, memorize verses on anger. I have found that it is easier to memorize verses that relate to the battles I am experiencing in life.

In the book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney says,

“Imagine yourself in the midst of a decision and needing guidance, or struggling with a difficult temptation and needing victory. The Holy Spirit enters your mental arsenal and looks around for available weapons, but all He finds is a John 3:16, a Genesis 1:1, and a Great Commission. Those are great swords, but they’re not made for every battle. How do we go about filling our personal spiritual arsenal with a supply of swords for the Holy Spirit to use? When Scripture is stored up in your mind, it is available for the Holy Spirit to bring to your attention when you need it most.”

2. Memorization Brings Transformation

Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul is saying that we are constantly under pressure to conform to the world’s systems and values. When you have memorized verses stored in your mind, you can live everyday with a more transformed way of thinking. Changing how we think is a key to sanctification.

As God’s people entered the Promised Land, which was occupied by hostile enemies, God essentially gave Joshua two instructions. He says in verses 7 and 9 to be strong and courageous, and He says in verse 8:

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

We see here that the Word equips us for all the challenges we face in life. We also see that when we meditate on God’s Word day and night, we are much more careful to obey it.

“If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.” Dallas Willard

3. God’s Word in Our Hearts Can Help Us Avoid Sin

“How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word….
I have treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:9, 11

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus quoted Scripture to respond to these temptations.

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Memorized Scripture gives the Holy Spirit a vocabulary to speak to us. You may be feeling conviction and a prompting by the Holy Spirit in a certain compromising situation. When you have Scripture stored up in your mind, the Holy Spirit can use it to bring clarity to what the Spirit is prompting you to do in that situation.

4. Scripture Memory Equips Us To Be Able To Minister To Others.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Steve Farrar, in the book, Manna, says this:

Jesus used Scripture to explain, rebuke, exhort, comfort and train those around Him. In the Gospel of Matthew alone, we find Jesus directly quoting from the OT seventy-six times. Thirty three of those quotes are from the Pentateuch: three from Genesis, seven from Exodus, six from Leviticus, one from Numbers, and sixteen from Deuteronomy. Nine times Jesus also directly quoted from Psalms and Proverbs. He quoted from all the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel), and from eight of the twelve minor prophets. 

5. Memorized Scriptures are a Powerful Tool for Evangelism.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

When you are witnessing, and you don’t know what to say, give people the Word of God. Share verses about the Gospel!

Memorize the verses that go with the Gospel presentation that you are using or learning. For example, The Bridge Illustration is based on Romans 6:23, and The Romans Road illustration is based on Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 and 10:9. Some of my most powerful moments in evangelism are when I share Jesus’s words instead of my own.

6. Memorizing Scripture Fuels Worship and Devotion

The goal is not to know more verses, but to have more verses know me. By approaching Scripture memory with an attitude of meditation, it helps to keep the process of memorization fresh, rather than allowing it to become a burden. It has become my practice to review my verses every morning along with my daily quiet time. For me, it is a devotional exercise. I review verses with the same anticipation to hear from God as I do when I open my Bible for my quiet time. Some of the biggest decisions in my life were influenced by the Holy Spirit speaking to me through verses I had previously memorized.

So how can you get started with Scripture memory? If you are wondering how to start filling your arsenal with verses, try memorizing the verses God has used to speak to you recently – from sermons, from time in the Word, or even from social media. I put my verses on note cards and review them daily on my own, and weekly with students I am discipling and with an accountability partner. Two of the biggest pitfalls I have seen in Scripture memory are not having accountability with others and not having a plan to review old verses. If the habit of Scripture memory isn’t something you are used to, link it up with something you enjoy. A lady from my church reviews verses every day when she drinks her afternoon coffee!

A great thing about Scripture memory is that it doesn’t have to take much time out of your schedule. I read in an article that the average American spends 45 minutes everyday simply waiting. These moments are a great opportunity to review verses we have memorized, thereby redeeming that time… even at the beach.

This article was originally posted on CollegeMinistry.com. Link: https://collegeministry.com/how-to-joyfully-memorize-scripture/

Crawford, director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries at University of Central Florida, is confident that though many may be tempted to feel “disheartened” about the next generation, God is still very much at work.

“While it’s true that the darkness is dark and the needs are great, God is greater, and He is still at work in the hearts and lives of college students,” Crawford reflected. “God is at work on our campus, and we have a group of students who are committed to growing in their faith and being intentional about sharing it with others.”

A steadfast figure in the campus religious and student leadership community for more than 25 years, Crawford was called into campus ministry after leaving a career in the business world. In addition to his roles as director of BCM and also the university’s Campus Faiths and Ministries organization, he also teaches in the Lead Scholars Academy—the. university’s leadership development program.

“Teaching classes in leadership has been a great way for me to meet and impact students,” said Crawford. “The focus of the program is on servant leadership, which is obviously a natural fit with a Christian worldview. I teach about 60 students a semester. Many of them might never come to a BCM event.”

“The Baptist Collegiate Ministries across Florida play a strategic role in reaching students on campus and connecting them to local Florida Baptist churches,” said Nathan Schneider, Florida Baptists’ next generation ministry lead catalyst. “Brad Crawford has done an excellent job of leading the ministry to be more creative and flexible in its approach, casting a wide net on campus and intentionally bringing church leaders to the university to make connections with students. Brad has also done a good job of mentoring students and mobilizing them to local churches, as volunteers, interns and staff members.”

With nearly 70,000 students, the University of Central Florida is the largest university by enrollment in Florida and one of the largest universities in the nation. The university also leads the way in student diversity—with more than half of students being a minority. Underscoring this widespread diversity was a recent ministry event—Around the World—where BCM students highlighted the various cultural nuances of ten countries.

“One of the encouraging things we’ve seen recently in BCM is an influx of students from a number of different countries and diverse backgrounds … more diversity than we’ve ever had before,” said Crawford. “Students who either had a family background or a missions experience in that country hosted a table with local food, souvenirs and facts about the country. It felt like a small taste of the scriptural promise that God will be worshipped by people from every nation, tribe, people and language.”

“Incredible blessing,” even with challenges

With the university quickly shifting from a commuter school to a more residential landscape, the ministry’s presence is critical despite facing unique challenges, including the constant ebb and flow of student turnover and a lack of permanent building space.

“One of the unique challenges in college ministry is the constant turnover,” he said. “Students are leaving and arriving every year. The window for reaching, training and mobilizing students is not always four years. Many times, it’s much less than that.”

The lack of building space also presents some weekly challenges. Although the group meets on Thursday nights in the Student Union, also known as the “Heart of Campus,” other gatherings rely heavily on shared space and in various gathering spots across the 1,400-acre campus.

“We don’t have a BCM building on campus, so we rely heavily on the university for space and access to the campus,” he explained. “Throughout the week, students have the opportunity to meet together on campus for discipleship and prayer.”

Despite the various challenges facing Crawford and his team, he still counts it “an incredible blessing” to get a front-row seat at watching God transform the lives of the next generation.

“One of the great joys of being in this ministry setting for many years is that I get to hear and see the continuation of God’s work in the lives of hundreds of former students,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a word of encouragement about how pivotal their time at BCM was in shaping and strengthening their walk with Jesus. Sometimes it’s tracing their career path and seeing how BCM gave them leadership experience or was a part of their journey. Other times, it’s seeing couples that met at BCM and later married and now are faithfully serving the Lord and raising godly families.”

Beyond campus life

The campus ministry regularly celebrates salvations and baptisms among the student body, highlighting the collaborative efforts and healthy relationships with local churches in the Central region.

“BCM has a great relationship with local churches in the area,” said Crawford. “We collaborate on joint events, promote church activities and regularly remind students that BCM is not a church. We want students to be actively involved in a local church—now and in the future. The church will be a part of their lives long after graduation from college.”

This collegiate ministry not only serves as a spiritual haven but also trains its college students to be on mission. Since 2017, the ministry has joined in the state convention’s partnership with Cuba by sending five mission teams to serve at the Baptist camp in Matanzas as well as at a church in Santa Clara.

“Our purpose and mission is to bring students in, build them up and send them out,” said Crawford. “We want to provide opportunities for them to grow in their faith alongside other followers of Jesus. And we want to send them out—into the local church during and after college, and also to serve and impact people locally, nationally and internationally.”

CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (BP) – An annual youth evangelism event at First Baptist Church had been slowly dwindling when Tyler Pearce started as student pastor four years ago.

Rather than continuing to rely on gimmicky tactics to attract students to the event called Revolution, Pearce regrouped and refocused the event on discipleship instead of evangelism – teaching verse by verse through a shorter book of the Bible during the four-night study.

The results have been notable. During this year’s Revolution event Sept. 11-14, nearly 200 students – the highest number since Pearce began – attended.

“I think kids are really hungry for something that’s real,” Pearce said. “They’re hungry for truth. Kids are interested to hear what’s being said. They’re advertised to all the time. And I think they, especially right now, want to hear truth.”

First Baptist in Crawfordville hosted the event but partnered with other local churches, with a different youth minister teaching a different section in 1 John each night. Such an approach models cooperation among churches for the students, Pearce said, and it helps the youth build relationships with godly leaders from other congregations.

Stephen Attaway, the youth pastor at Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church, in Sopchoppy, Fla., brought about 20 of his students each evening.

He echoed Pearce’s sentiment that students today are craving the basics of reading God’s Word and fellowshipping with one another.

“Ultimately, students just want something genuine,” Attaway said.

He was encouraged each evening when debriefing with his youth on their way home.

“It was really cool being able to sit and talk with them and look at their notes,” Attaway said. “They would show me their notebooks and talk about what they got from the event.”

Other churches involved were Grace Baptist Church and Lake Ellen Baptist Church in Crawfordville and a local Assembly of God congregation. A worship team from Baptist University of Florida also came to lead worship and interact with the students.

Pearce said one of the results of this annual Bible study event is that competition between churches in the area, among youth, is almost gone. Students are encouraging other students to attend churches that are the closest to them geographically.

Another result is increased evangelistic efforts among youth. Although the Bible study’s focus has shifted from evangelism to discipleship, Pearce said it has been effective in teaching students how to share their faith with their friends.

“Students are actually sharing the Gospel,” Pearce said. “They’re inviting kids to church, which is not something that I’ve seen as much. Most of the church growth around here has been biological before and now, especially at our church, we’re seeing a lot of people who aren’t connected to our church through families – a lot of kids coming because their friends invited them and were sharing the Gospel with them, and they wanted to hear what was all this about.”

Ryan Ladwig, a high school junior and member of the youth group at Crawfordville First Baptist, said he attributes the event’s continued success to the fellowship and to students’ interest in verse-by-verse teaching.

“They really helped to put 1 John in clearly understood wording,” Ladwig said. “They talked about how to testify when you’re talking to someone who’s interested in Christianity.”

Their mission? To uplift and support the local Baptist community through a vibrant summer youth and family camp. Amid the stunning landscapes and tropical climate, these young leaders shared their faith and built bonds that transcend cultures.

This mission was born from a vision shared by Nathan Schneider, Next Generation catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention, who had previously traveled to Cuba on mission. During his time there, Schneider realized the potential for a powerful partnership between Florida Baptists and Cuban Baptists. The need for volunteers to serve Cuban youth became particularly evident during the annual meeting of the Western Cuban Baptist Convention.

Brad Crawford, Baptist Campus Ministries director in the Orlando area, was also sensed a call to do missions in Cuba, traveling to the island for the first time in 2017. “I was interested in a new missions partnership after taking students to Turkey for many years. I knew our convention had a longtime partnership with churches in Cuba, but we had never taken any collegiate groups from our Baptist Collegiate Ministries,” he shared.

“Strategically, it aligned with what the convention and many of our churches were doing, and I really liked the fact that it was close to Florida geographically but a different world from what we have in the U.S. Allowing college students to see a unique place like Cuba and also connect with churches and people there has been a great experience for our students and me personally.”

Crawford’s passion for missions in Cuba spread to other Baptist Campus Ministries directors.

Led by Andrew Fernandez, director of Miami Baptist Campus Ministries, the team set out to make a difference at the youth camp in Yumurí. The mission included three youth camps and two camps for pastors and their families, catering to middle school, high school, and college-aged students, along with the pastors and their families. The primary goal was to support and partner with missionaries on the ground, helping to encourage and strengthen the faith of the youth and local pastors.

“Serving at this camp was an opportunity to encourage youth and students in their faith, connect with them, connect and encourage the local pastors and leaders,” said Fernandez. “I spent a lot of time with the pastors and youth leaders who were preaching at camp that week getting to know them, serving them and encouraging them in their faith.”

The mission team was diverse, comprised of students and leaders from various universities across Florida. Among them were Ethan Machin from Florida International University (FIU), Rachel McAdams and Kat Alwin, both campus missionaries from the University of Miami (UM), and Jeremy Hobbs, Baptist Campus Ministries director from the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg campus, along with Breanna Portugal, a volunteer discipler from USF Baptist Campus Ministries.

Language barriers posed a challenge, but the presence of a translator and the eagerness of the Cuban youth to engage in English made communication possible.

As they navigated the complexities of serving in a remote region with no access to phone service, the team also had to be mindful of the unique political and social dynamics in Cuba. Crawford advised the team to ensure that their intentions to serve were clear from the outset.

“There is a tendency for the locals to want to serve the foreigners as a thank you because we are bringing resources and we are visitors but, in reality, we are there to serve them and support them in the mission they have been called to,” said Fernandez.

On their first day, the team helped serve food at the camp, beginning with side dishes while the locals served rice. For Cubans, rice is an important part of meals and primary source of energy. By the third day, the team had built enough rapport to be trusted with serving rice as well, a significant gesture of trust and respect.

The camp was attended by 300 participants throughout the week. One of the mission leaders shared a personal testimony of finding Christ during his college years, resonating deeply with the students. The camp provided ample opportunities for recreation and connection, allowing the mission team to engage with the youth, learn about their concerns, and share their faith journeys. They even introduced the students to American football, adding a fun cultural exchange to the experience.

One of the most touching moments came when Machin, the student from FIU, shared his testimony in English, which was translated for the Cuban youth. He spoke about his struggles and referenced Ephesians 2:4, emphasizing the power of God’s intervention. After the service, a Cuban student approached Machin, revealing that he had experienced similar struggles and felt it was time to recommit to his faith. Over the next few nights, Machin continued to minister to this student, bridging the language gap with his broken Spanish and the student’s limited English, while Fernandez assisted with translation.

For Crawford, one of the most memorable camp experiences was witnessing a former Santeria believer share how he came to faith in Christ. “I asked a pastor, who I had met the previous year, to have a late-night discussion with our students about how he came to faith in Christ in college—coming from a background of Santeria worship to eventually leading a church. It was a powerful time together that was eye-opening to students about the similarities and differences of life in Cuba,” said Crawford.

The mission was equally impactful for the female members of the team, who built strong relationships with the young Cuban women. The passion and devotion of the Cuban youth left a lasting impression on the mission team.

“Despite living in a country with limited resources, the Cuban youth worshiped Jesus with all their hearts, a stark contrast to the often lukewarm faith observed in the United States, where resources are abundant, but devotion can be lacking,” said Fernandez.

Reflecting on the experience, Fernandez expressed a desire to see Florida Baptists, particularly Baptist Campus Ministries directors, engage in similar mission trips to cover each of the weeks of camp in Cuba. As people continue to leave Cuba, the future of church programs like these youth and family camps, looks uncertain, with churches struggling to find pastors as many have emigrated.

In a country where 70-80% of the population is involved in Santería to some extent, the mission to spread the message of Christ is both urgent and challenging. Santería is deeply embedded in Cuban culture, visible in every corner of the country.

Fernandez’s advice to others considering a similar mission is to prepare thoroughly with prayer and a strong sense of purpose. Teams should be ready to serve in every way possible, be intentional about their service, and be prepared for the realities of being disconnected from the outside world. Bringing everything they might need in case of emergencies is crucial.

Myles Dowdy, the Florida Baptist Convention’s point of contact for missions in Cuba, is available to guide churches through the process of entering the country and making a meaningful impact.

“My advice for someone considering a first-time mission trip to Cuba is to go with the confidence that God is at work in Cuba,” said Crawford. “You will be impacted by the enormity of the physical and spiritual needs all around you, and you will be challenged and inspired by the faith of the believers you meet.”