'Fill 'er Up!' theme for BSU convention

By Tom Creech

Special to the Recorder

About 200 students from 20 N.C. colleges and universities gathered Sept. 23-25 to get their spiritual tanks filled.

The students were participating in the 76th annual Baptist Student Union (BSU) fall convention at University Hills Baptist Church in Charlotte.

Whitney Loyd, a student at Wake Forest University and chairperson of the convention, said the weekend's emphasis was helping the students "be filled with the excitement that comes from being full of the joy of the Lord."

The theme for the convention, "Fill 'Er Up," was taken from a paraphrase of John 10:10: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Students interpreted the convention theme through skits and music in four celebrations. Josh Brewer and Ryan Richardson assisted in the celebrations by leading music and giving devotions. Brewer lives in Waco, Texas, and is working toward a master of divinity degree in global missions and worldviews at George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University in Texas. Richardson is Baylor's university life music coordinator.

During one of the celebrations, Richardson focused on the Christian growth process, something he said Christians don't always appreciate.

"We focus on a final product, i.e., becoming a super spiritual person," he said.

He also noted that a great spiritual moment can be followed by a 'down' experience, like the time Peter walked on water at Jesus' command and then took his eyes off Jesus.

Students also attended breakout sessions. Samples of the 13 sessions offered included "The How's and Why's of Technology in Worship," "U2 and the Gospel," "How Can I Listen to Jesus When I'm So Busy?", and "Filling Up with the Presence of God."

The BSU Missions Team presented several mission opportunities available to students next summer. New places open to student summer missions include Jamaica, where students will participate in sports ministry and educational ministry; Louisiana, where two students will spend 10 weeks helping N.C. Baptist Men in hurricane disaster relief; Ridgeland, S.C., assisting a chaplain in prison ministry; Chicago and East St. Louis, helping with an inner-city ministry; and China, where eight students will serve for four weeks in June.

A mission/seminary fair in the church's fellowship hall highlighted several ministry opportunities in the state and beyond such as Cameron Boys Camp, Camp Caraway, Mundo Vista, Ridgecrest Conference Center, and N.C. Baptist Assembly at Caswell.

Students interested in pursuing theological education could visit exhibits from the divinity schools at Campbell, Gardner-Webb, and Wake Forest universities as well as four seminaries Ñ George W. Truett Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology was also represented.

The North Carolina BSU is trying different venues for its annual fall convention. In 2003 the convention was held at First Baptist Church, Greensboro, and in 2004 students met at Forest Hills Baptist in Raleigh. For 33 years previously, the convention met at Ridgecrest.

"We're trying to reconnect with the churches," said Rick Trexler, the Baptist State Convention's campus ministries director.

In addition, having the convention at churches in the central area of the state allows more students to attend.