Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Stetson University

We can't escape the reality of God's love nor can we ignore His call to show this love to others.

"Dear Friends, since God so loved us we ought to love one another."
1 John 4:11

Small Groups

It is the purpose of the small groups to create a spirit of evangelism, help students with discipleship training, and deliver the BCM programs. The BCM, through its small group activities, has worked to develop programs that will have a strong evangelistic impact on the Stetson campus. College life is difficult thus we need to be an island for Christian growth; but not an island that does not explore the needs of others. Campuses everywhere need responsible Christian examples that provide others the change to experience a personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Fellowship This small group helps students to seek the joy of being a Christian through social functions.

Work with the New Student/Outreach Small Group to plan socials for the Fall/Spring during the first week back to school.
Plan and lead fellowship at during the year such as: beach trips, miniature golf, springs, movies, etc. Mentor and Delegate!
The ice cream social for new students and finals week fellowships will need planning and workers.
Always be prepared for the clean up of a fellowship, family weekend, formal, etc. It takes planning and follow-through.
Promote discipleship within your small group.
Organize and produce the Family Weekend Dinner Theatre including food, the cast, class skits, publicity, rehearsals, set-up, clean-up, etc. Work closely with the Director.
Spring Formal including food, decorations, entertainment, etc. is your groups fun gift to all. Formal is funded entirely through ticket sales.
Work with Worship Small Group to organize a Stetson Weekend (Homecoming), Vespers and fellowship after. This includes contacting Alumni to help (see Margie for help on this).
Make sure BCM'ers have a good time being BCM'ers!
Send thank you notes as a group when appropriate.
Be involved and encourage involvement in a local church.

Inreach This small group serves/nurtures people by the example of Christ's teachings and leads BCM in having a healthy prayer life.

Supervise a weekly lunch program with an outreach emphasis. Be responsible for buying food, set-up, food prep, and clean-up.
Lead BCM'ers to desire a prayer life. Updated prayer list, special prayer services (such as 9/11), prayer breakfast, etc. (if the old way of doing prayer breakfast doesn't work look for something new - maybe prayer on the beach.)
See you at the Poles prayer of our nation around the flag pole in front of Elizabeth Hall on the 2nd or 3rd Tuesday in September.
Cultivate a relationship with International students. Plan events to invite International students to BCM.
Friendship ministry is essential, if we do not get to know them first they won't come.
Promote discipleship within your small group. Support the Outreach small group.
Mentor and Delegate.
Find creative ways to make the atmosphere at Vespers and other functions as inviting as possible (help Worship group greet).
Coordinate fund raising for BCM activities.
Look into and implement a give-back program for students involved in BCM (encouraging giving to their church, etc.).
Recruit students to attend State BCM Leadership Training Conference, and Ridgecrest Student Conference (summer).
Send birthday, Christmas, get well, thank you, and other cards to BCM members/family and prospects.
Encourage New Bible Student and Drama leaders.
Plan Senior Send-Off...send invitations to graduating seniors.

International Use the International Studies department for input on how BCM can help the international student be a part of the campus and BCM.

During the summer get labels and a print out of international students coming to the Stetson campus in the fall.
Offer study help, especially with English.
Check with the international studies department for new international students and be sure they are invited to the ice cream social.
Plan events to invite international students to BCM. Friendship ministry is essential if we do not get to know them first they will not come.
Work on a rotating plan of service and small group Bible study.

Missions The Missions Small Groups plans local mission opportunity, the Spring Break Missions, and heads up the Care Package fund raiser.

Work with Worship Small group to secure someone for the Mission Moment at Vespers.
Organize Missions Emphasis Week, Vespers, etc.
Know available summer mission opportunities and recruit summer missionaries (Contact Connie at Florida Baptist Convention, 1-800-226-8584, Ext. 8200).
Plan Spring Break missions trip during fall semester. When Mission trip is decided, plan a retreat for preparation.
Plan Mission Vespers after Spring Break with Worship group. Plan mission trip(s). Plan Missions dinners as fund raisers for missions (5:30 Thursdays before Vespers once a month).
Care Packages fund raiser - NEEDS advance planning! Deliver the care packages, the week before finals each semester.
Plan fund raisers for missions.
Promote discipleship in your small group. Mentor and delegate!
Plan local mission projects such as Oakland Terrace Ministry, Nursing Home Ministries, Duvall Home, Children's Home Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, etc.
Promote and publicize on campus BCM's missions efforts here and abroad; adopt a child (2003 - Laticia in Brazil).
Plan a commissioning service for summer missionaries.
Work with Outreach/Worship small groups to fill Revival Teams, "Disciple Now" weekends & retreats for local churches.
Send thank you notes as a group when appropriate.
Be involved and encourage involvement in a local church.

New Students This group is composed of at least three returning students and the small group leader. Its purpose is to plan events for the new students. The group will recruit several new students to help plan events and to mentor as leaders for the coming years.

Recruit new students to serve in the work of BCM.
Plan New Student Kick-off retreat in the fall, put the date in the brochure going out to new students.
Find a way to keep in contact with new students beginning with the first Vespers. This involves getting notes to them right away and keeping a record of their addresses. have new student Vespers once a semester.
Plan outings for new students involving other small groups.
Make New Students aware and informed of all activities including BCM Retreats (state conference, Ridgecrest, etc.).
Mentor New Students therefore teaching them to mentor others and preparing them to be leaders. Delegate.
Plan a local mission/service project composed of new students. Gradually feed this group into regular mission events.
Promote discipleship by training New Student in Bible study, therefore, preparing them to be leaders of small groups or Outreach Bible studies.
Plan new student skits for family week, senior send off and other events when appropriate.
Send thank you notes as a group when appropriate.
Seek a local church and encourage others to attend church regularly.

Outreach This group works with the students to develop relationships with each other and God working to help upperclassmen connect with BCM.

Plan ways to contact returning students who have not be active with BCM or who have never been involved. The ice cream is a good event for this. This group is a relationship group that reaches out to students who are uninvolved.
Supply Greeter at Vespers and Lunch, this will involve people in being committed to friendship ministry. FOCUS/ORANIZATIONAL FAIR, and GREETING New Students are your firs opportunities to meet new students; publicize these vents (PROMOTIONS).
MENTOR and DELEGATE!
Know when the on-campus Bible students are and all the details. Mentor the leaders.
Recruit coaches for intramural sports and send representatives to intramural sports meetings. oversee BCM's intramural participation (including policy decisions) and involve intramural participants in other aspects of BCM.
Promote discipleship within your small group. Work with the other small groups to start a dorm outreach Bible study, therefore sharing Christ with all the world (campus, etc.)
Plan with Fellowship Small Group, recreational events for BCM making sure the uninvolved students gets invited.
Coordinate BCM's involvement in Greenfeather.
Select a representative for SGA.
Work with the Missions/Worship Small groups to promote, recruit, plan and support the work of the Drama team.
Send thank you notes as a group when appropriate.
Be involved and encourage involvement in a local church.

Promotions This small group is the eyes, ears, and legs of BCM - "Tell the Campus".

Do what ever it takes to let the campus know about BCM. MIXES MEDIA announcements (Stetson Announce, e-mail, notes by mail, web, etc.) Be excited about the news that BCM has free lunch Tuesday and Vespers Thursdays, etc.
Work together as a group and with all of BCM getting the news out... DELEGATE.
MENTOR FOR THE FUTURE
Publicize BCM SPECIAL EVENTS (Dinner Theatre, Fellowships, Formal, Greenfeather, Stetson Weekend, intramurals, etc. - banners, e-mails, etc.
Develop a way to invite non-involved students to Vespers and other BCM programs, work with Outreach on this.
Design, order, and sell BCM shirts.
Have a follow-through program for visitors at Lunch, Vespers, etc. Get names and addresses of all new people(all year).
Promote knowledge of God within your small group.
Enhance the atmosphere at Vespers/Lunch by helping the Outreach Small Group greeter.
Make sure BCM is represented in all campus activities.
Help Worship Small Group and BCM Executive Officers delegate people to make announcements at Vespers/Lunch.
Make sure that pictures are taken at all events. The BCM web will be enriched if photos are current (pass these on to Margie).
Plan with Outreach and New Students to have people in place for FOCUS/ORGANIZATIONAL FAIR welcome new students.
Send thank you notes as a group when appropriate.
Be involved and encourage involvement in a local church.

Worship This group encourages spiritual growth through student-led, and outside speakers with a passion for college student's spiritual life, worship.

Plan Vespers worship students. Coordinate procedures with Director, executive officers and small group leaders.
Schedule and plan special Vespers services (change of venue, seasonal emphasis, special outside speakers, special emphasis such as installation of new officers).
Prove a sound and Power Point technician.
MENTOR & DELEGATE!
Work with Drama team leaders and director to provide the drama/music team opportunities for being part of worship.
Encourage drama, singing, & other teams in Vespers coordinate rehearsal schedules for being part of worship.
Work with Promotions Small Group to have an order of worship weekly.
Lead a prayer time before Vespers with worship leaders.
Work with Missions Small Group to coordinate tours and outside engagements for worship teams.
Work with Inreach Small Group to know the needs of BCM.
Promote discipleship within your small group.
Provide the Missions small group information on musicians, Bible study leaders, and drama teams for off-campus revival teams.
Send thank you notes as a group when appropriate.
Be involved and encourage involvement in a local church.