April 26, 2024
McDONOUGH, Ga. – Four people surrendered their lives to ministry at a missions conference for Georgia college students last weekend, and three others made salvation decisions.
They were among about 650 co-eds who attended Baptist Collegiate Ministries’ annual Confluence conference at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church.
Beverly Skinner, director of campus expansion for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s BCM program, said students were challenged to commit to a day on mission, a week on mission, a summer on mission, and/or a life on mission.
Skinner said 70% of the attendees committed “to take their next step in missions.”
"Confluence opened my eyes to so many different mission opportunities, answered questions I did not even know I had, and brought me to a much deeper connection and devotion to God,” said Georgia Tech student Lara Glendenning.
Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Keith Wieser, pastor of Resonate Church in Washington state, challenged students to engage in missions.
Eric Swenson, BCM director at Georgia Tech, said Confluence provided a deeply spiritual experience.
“Our entire group committed to keep each other accountable in intentionally living missionally on our campus,” he said. “There was a lot of great energy and excitement to take all that they learned this weekend back on campus to better engage our campus with the gospel.”
Here are comments from other participants:
Bethany Saline, Kennesaw State University: "I am committing to listen to God's voice and say 'Yes' to God, despite what the world may say."
Samuel Ayeni, Kennesaw State University: "I am going to share the gospel with someone I have not even met yet.”
Peter Mullins, Kennesaw State University: "I am taking the next step to do international ministry on my campus.”
Zachary Casimyt, Kennesaw State University: "I'm going to continue to share with my friends and my roommate when opportunity comes."
Geena Robles, Georgia State University: “Confluence helped me know I need to make my faith known to all around me. My friends need to know about Jesus. Everyone in my contacts needs to know about Jesus. Every person I meet, day to day, needs to know about Jesus.”
Omar Johnson, Valdosta State University: "I will say yes to Jesus. I want to Live Sent. I want to be consumed by Jesus Christ."
Mackenzie Burks, Georgia Southern University: "Everyone can share the gospel and live a life on mission wherever God calls and places you.”
Danny Dore: “I’m going to share the gospel once a week with a different person on campus because this is what God wants me to do.”
