In Peru, 11 students from Arkansas State University BCM partnered with the International Mission Board’s Journeyman Missions in Lima to serve during spring break. (Submitted)
Students and leaders from Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) across Arkansas participated in multiple mission efforts over spring break, including outreach in North Carolina, Florida, New Orleans, and Peru.
Beach Reach in Florida
Emily Hatley, a student at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, knows what it’s like to walk the streets of Panama City Beach at 2 a.m., sharing the gospel with spring break visitors.
“It’s a lot of rejection at first, but then you have that one conversation where you see God really working in them. Then everything is worth it,” she said.
This spring, Hatley was among 475 Arkansas Baptists participating in Beach Reach, a ministry focused on engaging spring breakers. About 400 of the participants were college students representing nine Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCMs) and 20 colleges and universities across the state. Volunteers provided 5,279 rides, held 5,236 gospel conversations, and prayed with 6,886 individuals. Organizers reported 457 professions of faith.
Hatley, now in her second year at Beach Reach, reflected on a previous experience that made the ministry personal. “Last year, I shared the gospel with a girl named Taylor, and she decided to give her life to Christ in that moment. It was very special because it was the first time I was able to be part of something like that,” she said.
She described how Beach Reach challenges her to step out of her comfort zone and inspired ongoing evangelism on campus. “Beach Reach helped me understand how impactful planting a seed is, and building relationships goes a long way.” She noted that one of their BCM members even kept a list of people from their school – 33 in total – they saw in Panama City Beach, who they can continue to minister to at home. A lot of them took the shuttles and were engaged in Gospel conversations.
“When we got back, we reached out inviting them to BCM, or out for coffee in an effort to continue those conversations and relationships now that we’re home,” she said. “It really shows that you don’t have to go far to reach the lost. Every day is an opportunity to share the gospel. Beach Reach taught me to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my daily routine.”
Hatley also stressed the importance of connecting authentically with others. “My BCM Director, Luke Dawson, always says, ‘don’t be weird,’ which is so true. The people we’re reaching are regular college students, looking for a good time but searching for meaning outside of Christ. Even if they don’t give their life to Christ immediately, the seed is planted, and often they remember that conversation.”
College students, adult drivers from various churches, a feeding team from Balboa Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village, and campus ministers all gave up their spring break to serve others during Beach Reach.
“What we witnessed was nothing short of remarkable – hundreds of Arkansas Baptists stepping into a challenging environment and faithfully sharing the hope of Christ. Through thousands of gospel conversations, prayers, and over 450 salvations, God moved powerfully in ways only He can,” said Arkansas Baptists Evangelism + Church Health Team Leader Warren Gasaway.
North Carolina Outreach
A team from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff traveled to Monroe, North Carolina, where they partnered with Multiply Community Church for a week of community outreach.
The team of seven encountered a diversity of people, said BCM Campus Minister Matt Hall. “We met a Haitian family that had moved there three years ago, a German family that had just unloaded their house while we were canvassing, and a 70-year-old man who had immigrated from Croatia,” he said.
Throughout the week students canvassed neighborhoods, prayed with residents, engaged in evangelism, assisted with an outdoor worship service, and led outreach at the Chase Monroe Apartment Complex. On the final day, they served lunch to teachers and staff at East Elementary School.
Hall said three new believers joined the trip, and two of them shared the gospel for the first time. “It was incredible to see students stepping out in faith and witnessing lives being changed,” he said.
In total, the Pine Bluff BCM team participated in four outreach events, prayed with more than 100 individuals, shared the gospel more than 20 times and engaged seven people groups while partnering with two churches in Monroe.
Arkansas State University Missions
Students from Arkansas State University also traveled for spring break, serving both domestically and internationally.
In Peru, 11 students led by Reagan Bingaman partnered with the International Mission Board’s Journeyman Missions in Lima. The weeklong mission included teaching English in urban areas, hosting block parties in parks, and traveling to rural mountain communities to assist local churches with facility maintenance, play basketball with children and engage in evangelism.
“For many of our students, this was their first time outside Arkansas — or even outside the country,” Bingaman said. “It was an opportunity to see what being a Christian is like in other parts of the world.” Several students have expressed interest in pursuing additional missions since returning home.
In New Orleans, a team of 23 students led by Seth Dills participated in a six-day mission trip that included benevolence work with the Baptist Friendship House, door-to-door evangelism, outreach at the University of New Orleans BCM and ministry with Global Maritime Industries.
Many of the students had never gone on a missions trip and had barely evangelized before.
“Being able to share the gospel, being able to interact with people there, being exposed to a whole lot of the deep need of the world and deep lostness, really had an impact on them (the students),” Dills said. “A couple of them, since they got back, all they can do is talk about, how can I evangelize and reach people?”
Impact
These spring break efforts reflect a continued emphasis on evangelism and missions among BCM students, both on campus and beyond.
“Our college ministries don’t just talk about evangelism, they are intentional on campus and around the world,” said Gasaway.
“This week wasn’t just about numbers; it was about transformed lives, both for those we served and the students who boldly lived out their faith. Mobilizing college students in evangelism and missions is a hallmark of our BCM ministries.”