Arkansas Baptists were well-represented at National Collegiate Week, held Aug. 4-8 at Falls Creek, Oklahoma. One hundred and thirty-four Arkansas students and leaders from both campus-based and church-based ministries joined students from all over: Alaska to Hawaii, and Massachusetts to Florida.
“Getting to see how God is working on different campuses is so amazing,” shared Lauren, a UA Monticello student.
National Collegiate Week was created to challenge and equip students to passionately follow Jesus. The schedule included times of worship, teaching, community groups, breakout sessions, and fun. Key speakers this year included Shane Pruitt, Tommy Woodard, and H.B. Charles.
Josh Mauldin, associate pastor of College and Equipping for First Baptist Church in Fayetteville said, “I love bringing students to Collegiate Week because it’s the best way to prepare for ministry in the fall semester. The weeks right before and after the start of classes are the busiest of the year. Collegiate Week gives me and my students exactly what we need to make the most of that critical window. We are focused on Jesus in worship, equipped to do outreach effectively in breakout sessions, and connected with our community by spending quality time together. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year.”
UA Monticello Campus Minister Jeremy Woodall said he also “leverages Collegiate Week for his student leaders,” because “this time is instrumental in their maturation and growth.”
Matthew Stubbs, Little Rock BCM campus minister, agreed. “The week is beneficial because it challenges students to go deeper in their relationship with the Lord while growing closer to each other,” Stubbs said.
“E” and “J” are former BCM student leaders from Arkansas, and now career IMB missionaries serving in a city with over 400,000 college students across over 40 campuses. Currently stateside, they attended Collegiate Week. “We believe students are the most strategic group in the world for the missionary task. We loved connecting with students about ways to join our team or to explore other ways to serve globally.”
Will you pray for these students as a new year begins and they labor to bring in God’s harvest on campuses across Arkansas?