NGU students impact the next generation
Abigail Dickerson, Staff Writer and Photographer
North Greenville University sends students beyond the state lines to minister to young students.
On Friday, March 25, 2022, North Greenville University students drove two hours to Mountain View Baptist Church to help lead a youth ministry retreat. One of the NGU students, freshman Amelia Chapman is a member of MVBC and traveled with the team to her home church in Hickory, South Carolina.
Along with five other NGU students, Amelia was sent by one of the university’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries travel groups called impact teams. These teams consist of NGU students who travel to different churches, lead weekend retreats and connect with students.
The team consisted of sophomore Kinslee Medlin, sophomore John Austin Roberson, freshman Abigail Matson, freshman Camden Atkins, and sophomore Abigail Dickerson. These students left at one in the afternoon on Friday to head to the church before the student’s arrival.
The church’s Student Minister, Nathan Riley, gave the students an overview of the weekend to prepare them. He instructed the NGU students on how to set up games such as nine-square, gaga ball and cornhole.
Riley reminded the leaders that the goal of the weekend was to pour into the students as much as possible. “Try to have one intentional conversation with each student you meet this weekend,” he said.
Upon the arrival of the middle and high school students, the NGU students introduced themselves and began to have intentional conversations with them. The college students who serve on impact teams are trained at the beginning of the semester on how to share the gospel with youth, and now they are getting the chance to put into practice what they have learned.
Once the students and the leaders had their dinner, everyone headed into the high school building for worship and a message. The theme of the weekend was identity, and the theme verse was 1 Peter 2:9.
The verse says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
NGU students had the privilege of being small group leaders over the weekend. This opportunity gave them the opportunity to further share the gospel with the students and have deep conversations about what a biblical identity looks like in their lives.
As the weekend progressed, students attended sessions where they further learned about identity and the Bible. During the session, worship leader Nathan Reynerson said, “Close your eyes for a moment and hear what the Lord is saying to you. You are chosen by Him.” Many students responded to the gospel message over the course of the weekend, much to the delight of the leaders.
On Saturday morning, the church’s vans transported the students and leaders to the Cliff Hangers indoor climbing facility. There, students had the opportunity to not only have fun, but to build relationships with each other and the leaders.
After the climbing time, students and leaders went to do a service project at a homeless shelter not far from the church. Students helped the owner organize clothing donations, paint, garden and more. The church leaders were encouraged by the student’s hard work and willingness to serve the community throughout the afternoon.
Between the rock climbing and the service project, the students were worn out. That night, students still continued to be engaged and respond to the words that were being shared, despite their fatigue.
As the weekend came to a close, the leaders were able to have conversations with the youth ministry leaders about how students were willing to share their hearts for God throughout the weekend. In the end, the NGU students learned just as much from the middle and high schoolers as they did from them.
