UALR: CONNECTING THE CHURCHED GENERATION

“In college, I know people who’ve stopped going to church.They believe in God but stop practicing. That’s my story too,” said University of Arkansas at Little Rock senior Aaron Johnson.

Adam Venters said the Little Rock,  Bible-belt area where he serves as BCM minister is full of Aarons. “The first semester I was here, I did 215 surveys and found 30 percent of students on campus have some church background experience, but less than 10 percent are engaged in a church,” he said.

Adam said Aaron recommitted her life to Christ after hearing a Gospel message at the BCM August 2017. God had answered her prayer the day before: “God, bring me closer to You!”

Aaron had become a Christian at age 7, “but was starting to pull back.”

Adam kept encouraging her, she said.

Now, Aaron is on the BCM leadership team, has gone on three mission trips, and is serving this summer in New Orleans, Adam said.

Next semester, Aaron hopes to invite freshmen to the BCM and to church in her new position as their RA.

Henderson State: Hanging Out and Evangelizing

Aaron would fit right in with an intentional shift BCM minister Jared Farley is asking his students to make to effectively share the Gospel at Henderson State University. Jared wants his leaders who belong to the various clubs on campus to “hang out” with their respective groups and share the Gospel.

Recently, junior Colten Smith led another Legion of Nerds member to Christ.

“That’s not an off-term,” said Colten. “We play tabletop board games and video games. I love it!” The group also has nerf gun wars and plays dungeons and dragons.

God told Colten, “These are your people; you need to tell them about Me.” Members in the group range from a white supremacist, to a high percentage of LGBTQ’s, to an ex-military newlywed like Colten. Jared reminds his leaders, “Jesus took the incarnational approach to evangelism and left His comfort and security.”

Colten said he used to be judgmental, but he’s not anymore.

“We need to show God’s love before we hit them with God’s wrath,” he said.