On a Thursday evening at Winthrop University, the Gospel could be heard across campus. Literally.
For the second consecutive year, Winthrop Baptist Collegiate Ministry partnered with the campus Vision of Prayze Gospel Choir to host an outdoor evangelistic worship gathering called At Winthrop As It Is in Heaven. More than 150 students gathered on the campus green, while others listened from across the lawn. With the sound system turned up, songs of worship and the message of Jesus echoed between campus buildings.
And God was at work.
The evening included worship led by both student groups and powerful testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Pastor KJ Scriven shared the Gospel and invited students to respond.
As he began his invitation, something unexpected happened. Classes across campus started letting out. Suddenly, the number of students who could stop and hear the Gospel nearly doubled.
By the end of the evening, at least 12 students had made a decision to follow Christ.
One of those counselors was Evy, a Winthrop BCM student leader whose own story illustrates how God is raising up students to reach their campus.
Naturally introverted, Evy stepped outside her comfort zone this summer by serving on a BCM mission trip to Utah. That experience helped grow her confidence in sharing her faith. This fall, she participated in BCM training to help counsel students making decisions to follow Jesus.
When the invitation came, Evy was ready. She had the opportunity to sit with a young woman who had just trusted Jesus, praying with her as she began her new life in Christ.
God was not only changing the lives of students who heard the Gospel. He was growing the faith of students who were sharing it.
For another student named Talia, the evening provided a different kind of connection. Already a believer but lacking Christian community, she happened to be walking by when she stopped at the BCM table. Now she is excited about becoming connected to a community of believers on campus.
The work of God at Winthrop was not limited to the outdoor gathering.
In the days surrounding the event, BCM opened a prayer room inside the campus Little Chapel. More than 30 students came through the chapel over two days, spending time confessing sin and praying for those who do not know Jesus.
There is something beautiful about seeing a chapel that once served as a place of worship being used again as students seek the Lord. Now students are exploring ways to make the space a regular place of prayer on campus.
And they are already dreaming about what comes next.
Student leaders from BCM and Vision of Prayze are talking about expanding the event next year, inviting other campus ministries to join them in reaching Winthrop with the Gospel.
That may be one of the most encouraging parts of this story. Students are taking ownership of the mission to reach their own campus.
For one evening, the Gospel echoed across Winthrop University through a loud sound system. But the greater story is what God is doing in the lives of students each week through BCM who are hearing and responding to Jesus.