NAMB honors BCM for student missions

Courtesy photo

Jonathan Collette was in Cochrane, Alberta Canada for his summer missions trip working with Bow Valley Baptist Church. While there, he and the mission team visited the Ice Caves in the Canadian Rockies.

PENSACOLA (FBC)–Ranked among the top ten colleges and universities mobilizing students to missions through the North American Mission Board, the University of West Florida’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry received a plaque Feb. 16 honoring a commitment to the Great Commission through student missions.

NAMB representative Pam Oretego recognized the Pensacola school as fifth among 119 that sent 1,700 missionaries throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada in 2005. Assignments included ministering on college campuses and beach fronts, and in national parks, inner cities and rural communities.

Utilizing their personal interests, spiritual gifts and talents these Baptist student missionaries led sports camps, Bible studies and other outreach ministries that supported the evangelistic and church planting strategies of local Southern Baptist churches and associations.

The 18 Pensacola students who participated in summer missions and their region of service are: Jonathan Collette, Canada (Pensacola Junior College); Rachel Dunn, Canada (UWF); Leslie Adams, Florida (UWF); Jessica Lindsay, Florida (UWF); Josh Leamons, Maryland (Pensacola Junior College); Cassie Wells, Maryland (UWF); Kyle Norton, Maryland (UWF); Brittany Sullivan (Pensacola Junior College), Texas; Rebecca Bailey, Texas (UWF); Jen McCann, Arizona (UWF); Mike Reithmiller, Georgia (UWF); Aimee Rowell, New Mexico (UWF); Chad Dorsey, New Mexico (UWF); Emily Agricola , New Mexico (Pensacola Junior College); Chris Reeser, Washington (UWF); Scott Harris, Indiana (UWF); Brandon Henry, Indiana (UWF) and Karen Fielder, Indiana (Pensacola Junior College).

Tony Olesky, Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) director for the Pensacola area said he hopes the recognition will encourage more students to participate in missions this year. According to a NAMB news release, at least 2,000 students are needed to fill summer mission positions for 2006.

“I encourage students to participate in mission trips because I believe it instills within them a vision for God’s Kingdom,” said Olesky who also oversees collegiate ministries at Pensacola Junior College.

Last year the two schools combined sent 51 summer missionaries into the nation and world through NAMB, the International Mission Board and local churches. Olesky plans to take several teams to New Orleans during spring break and Turkey this summer.

“Our staff works hard to prepare students for these mission trips, training them through weekly evangelism experiences and other outreach events,” Olesky added.

As one of only a dozen schools being recognized for their contribution to student missions, Loy Reed, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Collegiate Ministries Department, said the award is an honor for Olesky, and also for the Convention.

“Sending students out as missionaries is one of our primary emphases because we realize that through this experience they will learn to lean on God and come back to make a difference here in our own Florida Baptist ministries,” said Reed.

Other schools that received this special recognition include the University of Southern Mississippi, Southwest Baptist University, North Greenville University, Carson-Newman College, University of Georgia, Hannibal-Lagrange College, Northeastern State University, Valdosta State University, Mississippi College, University of West Florida, North Georgia College and State University and Mississippi State University.

The deadline to apply for 2006 missions through NAMB is April 20. For more information on student missions opportunities or to learn how to apply, contact the Collegiate Ministries Department at 800-226-8584, ext. 3092.