Miami BCM

It’s been almost 5 years exactly since I worked as an intern at the Miami Baptist Collegiate Ministry. I stayed through the freshman welcoming party at FIU and the next morning Rob and I left for a road trip. At the time, I thought I’d still be around – volunteer some or something. But I got a job and we moved to Cutler Ridge and then the baby and I don’t think I’ve even been on campus at FIU since that night. Miami happened to me, and my good intentions got pushed to the wayside.

Miami “happened” to the BCM too. After I left, the BCM had only interns for a while, then there was a director, then there were only interns again, and now there’s no one but the secretary. I spoke with the secretary a few weeks back and she said that they had interviewed several potential directors, but the cost of living was the main reason no one wanted to come.

I’ve known for a while that this was going to happen. At the Old Cutler Missions Festival in February, I ran into Gary – a campus minister with Intervarsity at FIU – and told him about how sad I was that the BCM’s situation seemed to be so dire. I said, “I wish there was something I could do.” And Gary said something very simple, but profound, “You have to pray.” So I began to pray.

Everyday (ok almost everyday) I have my quiet time in the same place. When I pray about the BCM I always look up and to the right out the window at a big palm tree in my neighbor’s yard. Usually it’s surrounded by brilliant blue sky and I pray that God will call someone to come to Miami in the same way he calls missionaries overseas. I pray that they will feel drawn to this place so strongly that the high cost of living, the threat of hurricanes and the frustration of living in a foreign place will not override the calling. I have to believe that God is preparing someone, somewhere to come to the BCM and be the leader.

I hope that this person will come soon. I know college ministry is a sort of thing that starts over every year – that once someone does come, within 4 years it could be like they never had this lapse. Miami BCM will never be what the BCM is at UF or UA or FSU anymore than Miami will be Gainesville or Fayetteville or Tallahassee. It is a foreign place, and the BCM will have a sort of foreign look, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a success.