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\u2019s region, and two of those schools have multiple campuses.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d said Loy. \u201cWith 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The first doors were opened at Daytona State College<\/a> and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University<\/a>, where Baptist Collegiate Ministries<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n First Baptist Church in Daytona<\/a> 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\u2019<\/a>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<\/a> and Cross Life Church are serving students at Seminole State College<\/a> through the newly formed Baptist Collegiate Ministries.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_0721-scaled-1.jpeg\")
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