College students called to missions locally, nationally and internationally

By Lauren Urtel
Feb. 23, 2007

ORLANDO (FBC)—Laughing, crying, singing and praying together, 573 Florida college students energetically and unapologetically worshipped as one at the 2007 State Baptist Collegiate Conference.

The weekend event, held Feb. 16-17 at First Baptist Church of Orlando, was designed to help college students begin to discover God’s purpose for their lives and how He can use them to impact the world.

“You and I have been commissioned with the same commission the Father gave the Son. Do you live with that kind of intentionality?” said Jeff Lewis, keynote speaker and professor of Global Studies at California Baptist University, as he challenged the college students to reconsider the role of missions in their lives.

“God’s will for your life is not static. You should be engaged in missions locally, nationally and internationally — simultaneously.”

During three sessions, Lewis called attention to global suffering and asked students to examine how they could use the blessings in their lives for God’s purposes instead of their own. “You go to college to develop the blessings of God and as you develop them, you are glorifying Him. Our statement of faith is authenticated by our obedience.”

Lewis cautioned students not to relegate missions to a once-a-year trip, but to make it part of their daily lives. “Missions is a daily walk. The church was birthed in a global context and is not to remain separate from the world but to go into the world.”

Loy Reed, director of the Florida Baptist Convention Collegiate Ministries Department who sponsored the event, called students to be missionaries on their campuses and to make leading a missions lifestyle a priority.

“The need for missions on our college campuses is extremely urgent. So many of the students, around 85 precent, are lost,” said Reed. “This generation is not growing up in church, if we don’t go and get them, they will not be in church. It is one thing to win students to Christ; it is another to lead them to all that they can be.”

“College students are at the final stages of making some life-long decisions and they are still pliable. If we don’t impact them now, whatever we challenge them to later on will be that much more difficult,” said Lewis.

During the two-day conference students were given the opportunity to attend two breakout sessions of their choosing. Topics ranged from missions opportunities in Mexico and Turkey to transitioning to the real world and “Declaring God’s Glory” in fine art and music.

Micah Roden, a corporate executive with Target and a member at First Baptist Church of Orlando, led a Marketplace Ministry seminar which explored the workplace as a mission field. He shared his own struggles with wanting to serve as a professional missionary when he graduated college, but discovered his passion was in the professional world.

“Your ministry is wherever God has called you to be,” said Roden. “Whatever position God puts you in, He is putting you there for a purpose. You have to look at who you can be a light to.”

Missions in the workplace require “integrity above all else,” he cautioned. It begins with you developing a strong personal relationship in Christ. If not, you will not be strong enough when you are tested in the business world.”

Kate Knight, a University of Florida freshman, was struck by Lewis’ concept of missions locally, nationally and internationally, she said. The weekend was a good opportunity to “recharge” her interest in winning others to Christ, she noted. Most importantly, the 19-year-old said, she was reminded to “have faith and trust in God.”

Worship music was provided Friday night and Saturday morning by John David Webster, a Christian piano player and singer from Indianapolis, who has performed during Billy Graham Crusades and opened for “Delirious,” “Rich Mullins” and “The Kry.” Saturday night, Christian singer Aaron Shust performed before leaving to rejoin the “Mercy Me” concert tour.

Named to the 2007 State Collegiate Council were: Erica Boyd, Florida State University, president; Joseph Harris, Florida A&M University, vice president; Alex Melton, University of Central Florida, secretary. Representatives at large are: Caroline Hinson, University of Florida; Rachel Roberts, Stetson University, James Stephens, University of West Florida; and Ryan MacDonald, Manatee Community College.