Editor’s note: This article was written by Northark BCM Leader Jeff Brasel.
HARRISON, Ark. — When God’s people come together, amazing things can happen.
One of those amazing things can be seen in Harrison as two Arkansas Southern Baptist organizations work together to meet the needs of collegiate students.
The North Arkansas Baptist Association (NABA) and the North Arkansas College Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) are teaming up to help the students at North Arkansas College. The two groups have created a food and personal item pantry for the students at the college.
“We started working with BCM during the pandemic,” Northark BCM leader Jeff Brasel said. “It was through our meeting with the students we discovered the need for this pantry.
“Of course, one of the big draws for any BCM is food,” Brasel continued. “It was after our meetings that we kept noticing these young adults hanging around. They gravitated toward the leftover food. Due to the pandemic, we served them as much as they wanted, but we always had a little left.”
The kids took home the leftovers and ate them during the week. But there was not enough food for the entire week.
It was the conversation with the students that drew Brasel along with his wife, Becky, and daughter, Hannah, and son-in-law, Mark, to devise a solution to the problem.
The Brasels pitched the idea to First Baptist Church in Harrison’s pastor, Rob Davis.
First Baptist in Harrison has been very supportive of the organization allowing the chapter to meet in a building the church owns before the organization grew too large. Their members gave generously to start the pantry.
“There are so many churches that give to the pantry now,” Brasel said. “We are very excited about the blending of the association with our college students. We are proud that they have a heart for reaching students.”
The response was overwhelming.
“Some of those churches are making this their mission,” said former NABA secretary Jeannie Tomlinson who had to clear a shelf for the donations that were given by the NABA churches. “They love giving, and this is a great way for them to give to the students at our college.”
During the first semester the pantry was open, it helped 61 students and two families.
The overwhelming support allowed Northark’s BCM to become mission minded as well.
“We had an abundance of some items,” said Brasel. “Our BCM was able to give to other organizations inside our own NABA family.”
There is a ministry for women that is called Daughters of Hope and Transformation that is based in Marshall. Additionally, there is a ministry for men in Harrison at the 180 Church.
Extra items like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, toothpaste, and toothbrushes were given to these ministries.
Brasel feels that this ministry will continue to grow.
“Junior colleges in Arkansas are not allowed to have dormitories,” he stated. “However, college-support groups can provide them. Our North Arkansas College Foundation has opened its first dorm. I feel, as the school year continues, there will be more opportunities for us to minister to the needs of the students.”
NABA and Northark’s BCM have begun to build a special relationship. The BCM has outgrown its meeting facilities. NABA has allowed the Pioneer group to use their facilities. Over the summer, NABA needed help to clean out the leaves on their new building. Northark students were able to help the association.
In Proverbs 29 it says, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” North Arkansas Baptist Association and Northark BCM have the vision to help the college students in Harrison.