BCM Hilo Spring Welcome Week
By Anita Bice
Although many Hilo Baptist Campus Ministries (Hilo BCM) members were off-island four days before the spring semester started, 20 met to worship, pray, and plan welcome activities for newcomers. Hilo BCM gave out flyers on campus for three days. By the end of the f irst week of school, they had hosted four welcome events, a trip to see the volcano erupting, a large group worship and Bible study, and two beach trips to the other side of the island. The beach adventures allowed time to bond and have gospel conversations. The next week Hilo BCM announced two new Christianity 101 classes and an Apologetics class. It’s a great start to Hilo BCM’s Spring Semester!
University Ave Baptist Hosted Big Giveaway for UH Mānoa International Students
By Meredith Palicte
Local churches joined to serve 100 international students at UH’s Big Giveaway on January 11. University Avenue Baptist Church (UABC) transformed its fellowship hall into a “free thrift store” filled with essentials like bedding, cookware, and electronics. Students from countries like Nepal, Japan, and Nigeria eagerly gathered supplies, with one couple from Nepal excitedly finding everything for their new apartment. Aina Haina Baptist served shave ice, and a pancake breakfast fostered connections.
This event, a partnership between several churches, helped meet students’ physical needs while sharing Christ’s love. The next Big Giveaway is planned for August 23 at UABC.
New BCM O’ahu Intern Program
By Arjay Gruspe
During COVID, many things shut down, including the Baptist student dorm at Manoa. Last Spring, it reopened with a new purpose. Students apply, and those accepted have the privilege of living in the dorm as part of the Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) O’ahu Internship Program, led by NextGen Director Arjay Gruspe.
In their internships, students develop in three areas of ministry focus: leadership development, theological development, and missional engagement. They get practical ministry experience by serving at the BCM, attending a leadership class, mentoring, and learning through conferences, locally and on the mainland, through partnerships within the Southern Baptist Convention, such as NAMB, IMB, BCNet, and the HPBC.
Julia, a former intern who graduated from the program and has joined the BCM staff, said, “I entered the program thinking, ‘I got this.’ Little did I know it would literally change my life!” Julia now serves with BCM O’ahu with a focus on the leadership development area of the ministry.
Our vision through this program is to develop a leadership pipeline for students to be trained to serve effectively and missionally for God’s glory, either locally or globally. We are excited to have seen this program grow with the addition of more students this semester.
