CONWAY, Ark. – Conway Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) students were treated to pancakes, a hug and an encouraging word on Monday, Dec. 9, as they kicked off finals’ week at University of Central Arkansas.
The breakfast, which included pancakes, sausage and more, was provided and prepared by the Follower Sunday School Class from Balboa Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village.
The Sunday school class served breakfast from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Students stopped by either before or after their exams and we had the opportunity to serve them and build relationships with them,” said Mark Guinee, a member of the Sunday school class.
Mark said members have volunteered over the years with Beach Reach, a partnership between college ministries all over the nation to serve other college students on spring break. In 2024, more than 150 Arkansas BCM students traveled to Florida for Beach Reach.
The Sunday school class over the years also showed support for the University of Arkansas BCM in Fayetteville, where Mark’s son, Thomas Guinee, previously served with the BCM. Earlier this year, Guinee took on the campus minister role at Conway BCM.
Mark said the breakfast was a way to help build relationships with the students on campus and form connections with students they will see volunteering in the spring with Beach Reach.
“Students hear from me often that their local Arkansas Baptist Churches from across the state love them, support them, and are in their corner as they take the Gospel to their peers on campus. Few things communicate that better than a pancake, a hug, and an encouraging word during finals week,” Thomas said.
“We are so thankful for the continued support of our Arkansas Baptist churches as we continue to serve as their evangelism outpost on the college campus.”