Nate Hicks
The Corsair
Students involved in the Baptist Collegiate Ministries from UWF and Pensacola State College plan on bringing new events as well as old ones to both campuses next fall.
The popular BLAST (Believers Loving And Serving Together) series is just one event that will be returning beginning in the fall semester. BLAST takes place at noon on Wednesdays in the Pensacola State Student Center, giving students the opportunity to learn about Christ, have fun, and enjoy food and live music.
Home-cooked meals are served every week at BLAST and can vary from fried chicken, to chicken and dumplings. Games, give-a-ways and a message are also a part of the student-led service.
Another returning event, hosted at UWF, is known as CRASH (Christians Rejoice And Something Happens). Like BLAST, CRASH gives students food, music, and a message in the BCM building on the UWF campus on Thursday evenings.
“I go every Thursday and I love it,” said Pensacola State student Holly Spencer. “It brings so much joy to me personally and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
About 300 students participate in the BCM events at the two colleges each year, said BCM director Tony Olesky.
BCM students also can be found day to day around on both campuses, giving away lunch and advertising upcoming events.
Other BCM events include formal dances, prayer meetings, dinners, worship services, and sporting events.
BCM is not new to the Pensacola State. For 28 years it has offered students guidance, fun, and fellowship on the Pensacola campus.
“BCM is a Christian organization that offers students the chance to build needed relationships with each other and to learn about Christ,” Olesky said. “Everyone is welcome. No matter what religion, everyone can come to BCM events.”
One Bible verse that comes to Olesky’s mind when thinking about the BCM program is Ephesians 5:1-2: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
The ministry not only sponsors campus events, but also does community work to serve others.
“Each year we go on a mission trip, and this year we are headed to Canada,” Olesky said. “The area we are going to has a low number of Christian followers, and we are excited to spread the love of Christ.”
Their work stretches outside of school campuses; they help out at the Florida Baptist Children’s Hospital and host bible studies and worship services at local churches.
Mary Daniels, office manager of BCM, said, “Our goal is to equip students with what they need to be leaders so that they may lead others to Christ. We hope students will grow more like Christ and reach out to everyone on campus.”
BCM’s “Welcome Back Week” takes place the first week of school. Each day there will be social and worship activities. For more information, call Olesky at 473-5287.