Campus ministry becomes a refuge in the wake of tragedy

By Barbara Denman
May 9, 2008

GAINESVILLE (FBC)—It was a dark October evening. The man darting across the street was dressed in dark clothes. The pizza delivery driver never saw him. Neither did the people standing at a nearby bus stop.

Immediately after the initial impact, Mark Levitt jumped out of his car to discover he had hit a pedestrian and began to administer CPR. The man, still alive when the ambulance left, later died in the hospital.

Though not legally at fault, “I took it really bad at first,” recalled the University of Florida senior. “I had problems accepting why did this happen; why did it happen now.”

He visited a counselor but could find no solace.

Thus began a journey that would change Levitt’s life forever and bring hope where there was despair; peace where there was guilt.

Learning of Levitt’s misery, fraternity brother Young-Ki Chang encouraged his friend to stop by the Baptist Campus Ministry Center, located on prime property on the busiest thoroughfare on the University of Florida campus.

“It wasn’t his fault, seeing somebody die in front of him wasn’t pleasant,” said Chang. “He was really depressed and he didn’t know where he really needed to be and who he could trust.”

Chang saw it as “a sign from God telling me that I should lead him to Jesus Christ,” he said. “so that’s why I tried to introduce him to BCM.”

In a one of his lowest moments, Levitt walked across the street from his dorm to the BCM and asked director Eddie Gilley if he had a moment to talk.

“That happens fairly often with our location and with our open door policy,” recalled Gilley. “Students know if the door’s open you can come in.”

Gilley believes that the location of the center in the heart of the Gainesville campus and the longevity of the ministry which was founded in 1917, not very long after the university, “has established that we are here to do ministry on campus and to meet spiritual needs of the students. And because we have the facilities it gives us a platform of stability.”

As Levitt’s story unfolded, the campus minister shared with him the transformational power of God and that the only real peace to be attained in dealing with life’s challenges is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

At that point “I accepted Christ right there in his office,” said Levitt. “I immediately felt relieved. I couldn’t change the past, I have to accept that. But I was now on a good course for healing.”

“There was just a sense of hopelessness when he walked into the BCM,” said Gilley. “I was able to see his entire countenance change, and in the following months, the peace continued to grow.”

Gilley led him to Westside Baptist Church where he was baptized and became actively involved in the life of the church. This summer Levitt will participate in a mission trip to Cuba.

“I had always wanted to accept Christ and live a Christian life,” Levitt recalled. “But I never took that step until Jesus said, ‘Hey you can’t put if off anymore.’”

As he prepares to graduate, Levitt, an Army ROTC student, will begin active military duty. Knowing he will be leading others into battle, he hopes to his faith will be a witness of his fellow troops.

The campus ministry at UF as well as all other major campuses is supported almost totally through Cooperative Program funding. Gifts from Florida Baptists built the center in 1949, and today pay for upkeep of the facility and all of Gilley’s salary.

Noting that the campus ministry is supported almost totally through Cooperative Program funding, Gilley added, “We are able to be here for Mark and hundreds of other students like him on this campus and other campuses across the state because Florida Baptists care enough to give through the Cooperative Program.”

Levitt echoed Gilley’s sentiments “Don’t ever stop giving,” he said. “This place is an asset beyond belief to the people here on campus. College students need Christ right now and the BCM and this program are vital to us.”

In Levitt’s mind, the BCM center will always be a beacon of hope, peace and forgiveness and a visible reminder that the Cooperation Program transforms lives.