OSU BCM: A Ministry With A Bright Past, Present and Future

Photos provided by OSU Creative Team.

STILLWATER—Back in 1928, a group of college students at what was then known as Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) began meeting together to study the Bible, pray and encourage one another in life
and evangelism.

That gathering became one of the first Baptist Student Unions (now BCM) in Oklahoma. The OSU BCM played a pivotal role in launching collegiate ministry throughout the state and, nearly 100 years later, continues to impact lives for the cause of Christ on a daily basis.

The ministry has had many homes in Stillwater. Originally meeting in a classroom, the group soon shifted to a nearby house that they repurposed to be the “Baptist Student Center.” As the ministry grew, they moved to another house closer to campus. Students lovingly called this their “home away from home,” and the ministry maintained that home until 1953 when they received a new building.

The building on University Ave. provided a second home for students for more than 50 years. During that time, the ministry continued to grow and thrive. A Baptist Messenger article from October of 2000 notes that the BCM’s worship night had outgrown the building and was meeting on campus, yet ministry continued through that space in other ways for another 15 years.

For the last decade, however, the OSU BCM has been without a facilities “home.” In spite of this challenge, the ministry continues to thrive and has served as a launching pad for students to reach the campus and the nations for Christ.

Over the last three years alone, the OSU BCM has seen 85 salvations, had nearly 1,000 students participate in missions opportunities, and had hundreds of students involved in leadership development.

The ministry, which is a ministry of Oklahoma Baptists and is supported through the Cooperative Program, has the vision statement to “seek the welfare of the campus through evangelism, discipleship, missions and leadership development.” The vision derives from God’s call to his people in Jeremiah to seek the welfare of the city where they are.

“We want students to realize that, while this may not be where they land long-term, God has them here right now for a purpose,” Paul Lewis, BCM Director at OSU, said.

Lewis has a front row seat to what God is doing on campus and senses something special is happening. “There has been a huge shift in interest this year,” he said. “More students are coming than ever before, and more are getting engaged with the Gospel and our ministry.”

Nearly 200 incoming freshmen are plugged into BCM community groups, and the ministry’s weekly worship gathering has seen 600 or more students attend each week this semester. “What we thought was first-week excitement that would soon fizzle out, just keeps growing,” said Lewis.

The future is bright for the OSU BCM and only getting brighter. Major efforts are underway through Oklahoma Baptists to provide a new building for this growing ministry – a new “home away from home” where students can learn, grow, invest in others and be sent out to reach the world.

Cris Lowery, BCM Project Manager for Oklahoma Baptists, recognizes that a building is not just a building when it comes to ministry. “As we’ve seen at other campuses across the state, a building can provide so many opportunities to meet students who would not normally step foot in a church or attend a worship service,” he said. “It’s exciting to think about all the different ways God can and will use this facility.”

The planned building offers a large auditorium for worship gatherings and other events, a full kitchen, office space for the staff, on-site living quarters for ministry interns, rooms for Bible study or discipleship and space for students to study, gather and build community. Located adjacent to student housing, the facilities will be ideally situated for maximum Kingdom impact.

“Many college students are being confronted with ideas and belief systems vastly different from what they grew up with, and the nations are coming to us in masses, making the college campus an incredibly strategic mission field,” said Chad Coleman, BCM State Director for Oklahoma Baptists. “This building campaign offers a great way for all Oklahoma Baptists to come together to invest in the next generation.”

To learn more about the ministry at the OSU BCM or to donate to the ministry or building fund, please visit osubcm.org or contact Cris at (405)-942-3000 or clowery@oklahomabaptists.org.