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.’”

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.”

The Associated Press has reported that a suspect has been arrested.

Around midday, with alarms on campus signaling an active shooter, numerous first responders converged on the scene. Some students sheltered in place, while others raced across the sprawling campus to escape harm.

As the full story continues to develop, Florida Baptists are praying for all who have been impacted by this act of violence.

“At the Florida Baptist Convention, we are heartbroken over this senseless act of violence. Please join us in prayer for all of those impacted,” said Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention.

“In the coming days, we will be working alongside Baptist Campus Ministries as well as churches near the Florida State University campus. The Florida Baptist Convention will stand together with Baptist Campus Ministries and these churches as beacons of light in the darkness of this violence, offering prayerful and personal support to the families affected by this horrific experience.”

Barry Sproles, Baptist Campus Ministries director for Florida State University, has been reported as safe. He was able to leave his office on campus, and reportedly now is at a local church with several students.

More updates will be posted as additional information becomes available.

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.”

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.”

But it definitely wasn’t an experience of “lasts.” There will be more international mission trips with students. There will be more sermons preached. There will be more testimonies shared in the heart language of the people being reached.

Braly leads Jax Baptist Campus Ministries for five colleges and universities in the Jacksonville area: Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, St. Johns River State College, Edward Waters University and University of North Florida. In March he took a team of nine students to León, Nicaragua, where they prayed for church members and community residents, went door-to-door witnessing, shared the gospel in schools, held a beach worship service, and taught in a local church and at a youth rally.

When Braly first began leading Jax Baptist Campus Ministries about five years ago, it was a time of rebuilding for the campus ministry. This year’s inaugural mission trip was a vital next step in the rebuilding process–an opportunity “to put missions in my students’ hearts and to see that God is working all around us, and it’s not just in the U.S., and to give them a bigger mindset. God is the God of the nations,” he said

The students, Braly said, saw “God’s hand all throughout the trip.” Even when the mission team felt weak or vulnerable, he recalled, “We kept saying, ‘We’ll bring our weakness, and God will bring us strength.’ And that’s what happened. ‘We’re just going to be faithful; we’re going to show up.’ And then God just kept showing up and being faithful.”

During the trip, the Jax Baptist Campus Ministries group discovered how Christians are truly united in Christ, even amid language differences and when living in different countries. Braly commented, “One of the things that was really impactful for me and the students I think was that we really saw the body of Christ doesn’t matter where you are located or who you are; it’s that these are your brothers and sisters in Christ. These are my brothers and sisters who live in Nicaragua, and I live in America, and that’s the only difference.”

The student mission team partnered with a mission team from Faithbridge Church in Jacksonville. Connecting students with local churches is a priority for Baptist Campus Ministries, Braly said. The Faithbridge mission team focused its ministry at its church campus in León, while the students focused their ministry at Iglesia Fuente de Vida, a nearby church plant, where they “used all their gifts to encourage, equip and support” members there. Both mission teams joined for morning devotionals before daily activities.

While in Nicaragua, the student group had to rely on interpreters most of the time to share the gospel. After Braly preached a sermon, one of his students shared a story with him about his interpreter. The man who had interpreted the sermon had served previously as an interpreter in the tourist industry. As the young interpreter was learning English and sometimes struggling with a new language, he sensed God impressing on him that he would “one day” interpret for a preacher. This was the interpreter’s first opportunity to do so. Braly said it was a humbling experience to be a part of that “one day.”

The students had stories of their own as well.

Student Caleb Goltz preached his first sermon in Nicaragua, an experience he described as “surreal.” Sensing a call to ministry and “trying to take steps toward walking in that calling,” Goltz was enthusiastic about the opportunity. While preparing to preach, Goltz said, “I had a moment where I just felt so much pressure to create this amazing sermon and just felt like the Holy Spirit laid a question on my heart, ‘Why are you trying to make this grander than what it is? The gospel already has the power to change lives; you do not need to add anything to it; just preach it. Use the power that is in it and show it to these people.’”

Another student, Lark Davis, had studied Spanish throughout elementary, middle and high school. “Last year,” she said, “I decided I wanted to build on that foundation and achieve fluency … since I had decided to go to Nicaragua. I knew that we would have interpreters, but I thought it would be more engaging if I was able to share my testimony in their language.” Nervous before sharing her testimony, she said, “Many people in my group prayed for me and encouraged me. Feeling God’s peace, I shared, and several of the members afterward told me how it was encouraging for them.”

Now back home, students are continuing their relationship with the Nicaraguans, communicating through technology and continuing to celebrate God’s faithfulness. They are also building on their own student-to-student bonds that were strengthened during the mission trip.

Braly is planning two international mission trips for students in 2025–one will return to Nicaragua to continue the work there, and the other trip is slated for Ecuador.

“God is faithful,” Braly said.

Rhodes, a steadfast figure in the campus religious community, was drawn into the campus ministry during his own college years, initially attracted by social events and free meals. “God had other plans, though,” Rhodes reflects. “Every passing year, I got more involved. Today, much of my day-to-day involves witnessing on campus, leading investigative Bible studies, similar to my personal ministry as a college student.”

“Colin is the type of leader you want to have on your team; he is a self-starter with a resolve to see vision become reality,” said Nathan Schneider, next generation ministry lead catalyst. “His hunger to see people know Jesus has led him to make significant contacts on campus and share the gospel with many students. Colin has been a consistent presence at FAU for Florida Baptist churches in Boca Raton and beyond.”

The ministry’s presence is crucial at Florida Atlantic University, where it faces unique challenges, including the existence of another group misleadingly using the BCM acronym. “Tabling is big here, so we set up on the main thoroughfare as often as we can, meeting people and getting our name out there,” Rhodes explained. This strategy helps establish the ministry’s presence and clarify its mission amid confusion.

One significant issue Rhodes and his team address is the widespread problem of pornography on campus, which he describes as a “veritable epidemic.” Citing statistics, Rhodes said that at least 80% of Christian students regularly view pornography, a habit that shortens attention spans and fuels immense shame, thereby hindering their ability to share the gospel effectively. “I had one student who, after confessing an addiction, said he felt like a 100-pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders,” shared Rhodes.

“FAU has become a premier state university that students from all over the Florida and the nation are coming to,” said Al Fernandez, regional catalyst for Florida Baptists’ Southeast region. “Having a Baptist Campus Ministries presence on campus is vital in sharing the gospel with students and connecting them to local Florida Baptist churches.”

Partnership with local churches

The efforts by Baptist Campus Ministries leaders extend beyond personal transformation. The ministry recently celebrated its first student baptism in partnership with a local church, underscoring the collaborative efforts with area congregations to nurture faith among students. “We just celebrated our first BCM student getting baptized in her local church, which I think is a beautiful picture of this partnership,” Rhodes said.

Additionally, Rhodes is keen on bridging the gap between church attendance and campus ministry, recognizing that many students do not regularly attend church. “Only half of our students regularly attend church …  probably because the other half aren’t Christians yet!” he stated.

Baptist Campus Ministries not only serves as a spiritual haven but also trains its members to reach out to non-Christians. “We’re big on training Christians to reach non-Christians, win them to Christ and then train them in turn,” said Rhodes, who extends an open invitation to pastors: “I’d love to take you witnessing on campus one day!”

Off campus, Rhodes and his wife, Coral, who works at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Jupiter, are active in their local church- Family Church in West Palm Beach. Coral’s dedication at work and her stand for faith in a secular setting complement the couple’s ministry efforts.

As the campus ministry at Florida Atlantic University continues to grow, its impact resonates through the personal stories of students and the broader community engagement, promising a stronger spiritual foundation amid the diverse challenges of university life.

Steve Loy, associate director of missions for East Central Baptist Network, said that college students today are finding real and genuine love from local churches serving their schools. The local churches’ effort to love, minister and disciple college students has become more focused within the past two years.

Two years ago, Halifax Baptist Association and Seminole Baptist Association merged to become East Central Baptist Network. Soon, the network of churches saw the need for connecting to the college and university campuses in their region. Six higher education schools are located in the network’s region, and two of those schools have multiple campuses.

“It would certainly be a God thing with only about 70 churches, having an estimated average Sunday morning attendance of approximately 500 college students in all our network churches worshipping together,” said Loy. “With these odds, the leadership of the network knew it was not going to be easy but acknowledged that God was calling us to engage the college students on these campuses with the gospel of Jesus Christ and connect them to the local church.”

The first doors were opened at Daytona State College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where Baptist Collegiate Ministries had served in the past. The churches then found a connection at Stetson University through Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a faculty prayer meeting on campus.

First Baptist Church in Daytona recently hosted a student worship night that drew 90 students including new believers. At Embry-Riddle the church participated in a meal event, and two students made professions of faith as a result. On Stetson University’s Deland campus, the churches have started a Bible study in one of the athletic dormitories, which has led to a profession of faith and upcoming baptism. Stetson Baptist Church and Cross Life Church are serving students at Seminole State College through the newly formed Baptist Collegiate Ministries.

At another Stetson University campus in an event sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, students held a worship service in the courtyard and offered an open forum for the student body to ask questions about Christianity.

As the connections and partnerships have developed, students have found their faith families in the local churches.

“Our hope and goal are to build up the local church with local students,” said Loy. “Students are reaching students; big and small churches are coming behind us to connect with the students.

“God is at work all over the place, I could go on all day about the ways God is moving in campuses across the area. The local churches are feeling they have a part in these campuses; they are not on the sidelines, and the colleges are feeling the real love of God through the churches.”

Loy offers six suggestions to help churches reach college students in their communities:

1. Have your church adopt a campus close to you and pray for it each week during your worship service.
2. Have your church volunteer to help and partner with Baptist Collegiate Ministries or other Christian clubs on the campuses close to your church.
3. Offer a small group Bible study for college students. The Bible study does not need to be at the church.
4. Have a special day annually to recognize the college close to you. Make this a church event. You may even want to invite the president of the institution to participate.
5. Have college students involved in your Sunday worship and leadership in your church. This may take a little time, but it will be worth it.
6. Be real, be loving and preach God’s Word.

“Give students a place to just gather and build community. It could be at a person’s home or at the church. Just let them know you care about them.”

Months following a spiritual revival at Auburn University, leaders and parents inspired by the transformation sought to extend this revival to other university campuses. Their prayers and planning led to the Unite event at FSU, an assembly designed to unify evangelical churches and ministries in a concerted effort to share the gospel with students.

The involvement of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries was pivotal from the outset. Barry Sproles, director for Florida State University’s BCM and servant to the community at Tallahassee Community College and Florida A&M, shared how BCM played a consultative role, offering insights into the spiritual needs on campus and how best to address them. Preparing students for gospel-sharing became a primary focus, with the BCM operating as a crucial link between the local Florida Baptist community and the university.

The night of the Unite event saw passionate worship and powerful messages, culminating in an “overwhelming” response from both believers and non-believers alike, Sproles said. Many students stepped forward, confessing sins, reaffirming their faith and committing to deeper involvement in their local churches. The impact on BCM students has been profound, encouraging them to engage more faithfully in practices they already knew were essential to their walk with Christ, Sproles said.

One such student is David, who, inspired by the Unite event, has committed to aligning his life more closely with God’s will, leading to deeper service in his church and steps toward baptism. This story is but one of many, symbolizing the broader movement of revival stirring within the hearts of Florida State’s student body.

Looking ahead, Sproles emphasizes the importance of students’ continued boldness in sharing the gospel, the cultivation of meaningful connections with local churches, and the stewardship of this spiritual awakening. The Unite event has also strengthened partnerships between university ministries and local churches, aiming to nurture the seeds of revival through baptism, discipleship and ongoing support.

As baptisms continue both on campus and in local churches, the community has witnessed a tangible manifestation of faith and commitment. The revival has sparked a wave of enthusiasm across generations, from senior church members who have long prayed for such a revival to the younger generation experiencing it firsthand. This revival echoes the spirit of old-time crusades, proving that the desire for a unified, gospel-centered outreach remains as relevant and powerful as ever.

Sproles calls on the Florida Baptist community to pray for continued boldness, for the lost to find salvation, and for this revival to mark just the beginning of a deeper, sustained movement of faith across university campuses. The Unite event, with its immediate impacts and ongoing conversations, serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the transformative power of the gospel, he said.

The story of faith igniting at FSU is a powerful reminder of what can happen when hearts are united in prayer, worship and action for the gospel, Sproles said.

“Many of the cool conversations that I’ve had have been from senior adults who are telling me that the events that took place at Unite and the subsequent follow -up opportunities are answers to prayer.

“Groups of senior adult women, for example, at First Baptist Tallahassee who have been praying for revival on the university campuses of Tallahassee together, physically coming together for nearly 20 years. It’s neat to see the excitement in their eyes as they ask me questions about how God is at work on our university campuses.”