How is Lifeway’s Collegiate Ministry being impacted by cost-saving measures in light of COVID-19?
In mid-March, as nationwide “shelter-at-home” orders went into place, Lifeway began to see consecutive weeks of steep revenue decline across all sales channels. We also had to cancel many events and camps, including BeachReach and Collegiate Week at Falls Creek in Oklahoma. The large and unexpected drop in revenue affected several areas of our organization’s efforts, including collegiate ministry. In addition to staff reductions, Lifeway will no longer host Beach Reach or National Collegiate Week in the future. (This does not include Beach Reach South Padre Island hosted by Texas Baptists; learn more at beachreachspi.org.)
How will Lifeway continue to serve churches in their ministry to college students?
Lifeway will continue to serve churches in ministering to college and university students by providing ongoing Sunday School curriculum and short-term Bible studies that help disciple young adults and deepen their walk with Jesus Christ.
Ongoing curriculum will continue to have a young adult emphasis. Bible Studies for Life Young Adult, Explore the Bible Daily Discipleship Guide, The Gospel Project, and YOU will all be lines of curriculum that will help young adults understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus within their context.
Short-term studies will be offered under the “Lifeway Young Adults Recommends” tagline. These studies will be relevant to issues that young adults and college students are facing within their culture. Some of those studies include The Prodigal Son by Matt Carter, Everyday Theology by Mary Wiley, and Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper.
Additionally, the GO2 Playbook and GO2 Bible study help college ministries challenge graduates to two years of missions (utilizing their degree) upon graduation. Learn more at collegeministry.com/go2.
Will Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM, BSU, BSM, Christian Challenge, churches) continue to have some form of national identity?
For a number of years, the Baptist Collegiate State Directors Association (BCSD) has worked with Lifeway to provide national leadership for campus-based and church-based collegiate ministry. The BCSD will continue this vital assignment.
The Baptist Collegiate Ministry Network (BCNet) is a national network of committees composed of state, campus, and local church Southern Baptist leaders who resource church and campus ministries throughout North America in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, missions, international student ministry, planting and leadership development. The BCSD gives direction to this group. The BCSD and BCNet will continue to partner with Southern Baptist churches, state conventions, institutions and entities.
For more information about national collegiate ministry, visit collegeministry.com or email bcmlife@gmail.com.
How will the changes affect my local BCM/BSU director?
All local campus ministries are staffed and/or coordinated through their state Baptist convention and are not impacted by the staffing changes at Lifeway.
I’d like to connect my son, daughter, or grandchild with a ministry on campus. Who do I contact?
The director of collegiate ministry at your state Baptist convention will be glad to connect with a specific campus ministry in your state. You’ll also find a list of Baptist Collegiate Ministries at collegeministry.com/directory.
Our church is interested in starting a ministry presence on a specific university campus. Who can help us start a new ministry?
Please contact your state Baptist convention to connect with the Baptist Collegiate State Director in your state.
Will there still be a Collegiate Summit in 2021?The BCNet leadership team is planning and hosting this event in partnership with Lifeway. Collegiate Summit 2021, an event for collegiate leaders, is scheduled for May 5-7, 2021 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Learn more at collegiatesummit.com.