More in: Baptist Campus Ministries

All articles in: Baptist Campus Ministries

A Vision Realized

Baptist Campus Ministries: Brad Simmons
Tuesday, September 27, 2005

A year ago this month I had the privilege to begin working regularly with an amazing group of students. These students came from thousands of miles away to Wichita State University (WSU) to pursue degrees in everything from music performance to management information systems. These nine students came from two different countries, but had a common vision: to begin an international student church on the campus of WSU.

Ten months before I began working with them, these students had devoted themselves weekly to prayer and fasting for the vision God had given them. They met weekly in an apartment for Bible study in addition to serving as worship leaders at Southwind Fellowship Baptist Church. In October 2004, they were ready to begin to reach out to other international students by moving their weekly Bible study on campus, and holding it in English. They call this weekly praise & worship service held at the WSU dorms, "The Mission."

Over the course of last school year, eighty to one hundred different students, representing nearly a dozen countries, attended "The Mission," or one of our outreach events. These outreach events included a Chinese Moon Cake Festival, and a Valentine's Day party. Several students accepted Christ, including one young lady from Indonesia. Pastor Paul White, from Southwind Fellowship, baptized her on a Saturday night at Immanuel Hillside Baptist Church.

Now, with the support of Southwind Fellowship, "The Mission" is becoming a church. Beginning October 9, "The Mission" will begin meeting in a classroom at WSU on Sunday afternoons. The students have a passion to see many of their fellow international students come to know Jesus as their Lord, and grow in their faith.

Please pray for these students as they seek to reach the best and the brightest from their countries with the Love of God. Please pray for me as I help lead this young church and its young members to be a place of light at WSU.