The Baptist Collegiate Ministries’ mission statement says, “Serving God by loving students,” and the director and its members said they intend to do just that.

   The BCM hosts several events throughout the school year. They host a Back-to-School get-together, Weevil Serve Day at the beginning of each semester, a retreat for members in January and REZ week in April. Members also go to the Passion conference in February and a mission trip each Spring Break.

    Ask any BCM member, and they will tell you the BCM became a growing force on campus this semester. Their numbers grew at the "88 Lunch" and their Thursday night service "Ignite."

   The BCM focuses on growing its members spiritually. They host several small group Bible studies throughout the week. There may not be as much emphasis on contributing to the student body and community as other organizations, but BCM members contribute to the spiritual needs of the student body.

   Erik Olson, junior BCM member, said, “Our biggest focus, other than discipleship, is giving students someplace to go as a refuge. The BCM is a place for students to come, hangout, watch TV and relax.”

   The BCM started out as the Baptist Student Union, commonly called the BSU. The name change came in 2002 as an attempt to catch up with the changing culture. Student unions, a popular place for students to hang out, became obsolete to a growing and changing college campus culture.

    The current BCM building, built in 1958, should soon belong to the University again. The BCM members started raising money to build a new building in the empty lot across from the football field sometime last year. The building’s approximate cost comes to about $500,000. The dirt work is set to begin in March 2008, with actual building beginning in June 2008 and be ready to move in to around Dec. 2008.

   The funding for this project comes from the association that sponsors the BCM. The Southern Baptist Convention and its various associations send money donations to the BCM each month. This money goes toward operating costs and the building fund.

   While it might be safe to say the BCM members would say the BCM suits their wants, tastes and needs, not all students feel this way.  Some students feel the BCM could do more for the student body and the community.

   “I wish they would do more stuff that college students like and less ‘churchy’ stuff. Some college students have had church shoved down their throats for so long, they are tired of it,” said Tamara Sipes, junior English major.

   Students said they think people like places such as the BCM because it gives people a common bond. They attend these places because of things like: common religion; Christian fellowship; people who support you whether you attend all the time, some of the time or rarely; and people can sense when something seems a little off.

   The BCM provides a place for college students, who want or need a place to seek refuge, peace or just time to wind down from a busy day. Some think they could do more to help the people in and around the campus.