Ministry helps collegians continue in faith

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Alana Blackwell was a junior in high school when a friend at church invited her to hang out with a group of Baptist college students at Louisiana State University. Blackwell, a future LSU Tiger herself, jumped at the opportunity to build relationships with the collegians.

For the next two years, Blackwell frequently met with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry group at LSU. She took part in devotionals on being a leader among her youth group and how to stay involved in church as she transitioned to college.

Blackwell now is a leader of “Transitions,” a BCM outreach at LSU focused on connecting with high school students and college freshman.

Attending college for the first time “can be overwhelming,” Blackwell said. “It is very important to connect with students while they are still in high school so that they feel comfortable getting involved with the BCM when they get to college.

“It was during those meetings in high school that I met some of the people that helped get me through my first year at college and really helped me step up to a leadership role in the BCM.”

LSU student Michael Wrobel, who currently serves on the Transitions team, is a product of the ministry.

“I am so thankful that I was contacted by other students and got involved in the BCM,” Wrobel said. “I feel it is so important to find a strong group of college friends who have the same beliefs and morals.”

Wrobel said he has gained a passion “for high schoolers and helping them continue to grow in their faith. I want to help them make the transition from high school to college, remembering to keep God first and to totally rely on Him.”

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Tim Simpson, college minister at First Baptist Church, agreed that building relationships is the key in helping students make the transition successfully.

“The transition from high school to college is a tough one,” said Simpson, noting that high school seniors at his church are promoted into the college ministry right after graduation. He encourages the college students to befriend high schoolers and makes it a point to have collegians attend the church’s annual graduation banquet and speak on the importance of being connected to the church through the college ministry.

Linda Osborne, National Collegiate Ministry leader for LifeWay Christian Resources, said, “Perhaps there is not a more significant time to reach out to young adults than as they make the transition from high school to college.

“Many students are leaving the church in high school. A move to college can provide a fresh start for these students. Many more either intentionally or ‘accidentally’ leave church as they make the move to college,” Osborne said. “Lots of these students didn’t plan to walk away from church, it just sort of happened in their transition.”