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.

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.”

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.

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.”