More than 700 Baptist collegiate ministry leaders from across the United States and Canada recently gathered for the 2024 Collegiate Summit held near Memphis, Tennessee.
This was the largest showing for the equipping event that is held every three years and is organized by the Baptist Collegiate Network.
The May 1-3 conference is known for featuring resources, well-known guest speakers and networking opportunities. This year, leaders from more than 400 campuses and church ministries were looking to enhance their ministries that collectively touch more than 55,000 students each week.
The 2024 Summit included guest speakers Bill Elliff, Shane Pruitt, Dr. Tom Richter, Zane Pratt, and Paul Worcester.
New this year was a micro-conference for large church college ministry leaders with breakout session topics designed to better equip these leaders and to make connections for them moving forward.
‘Encouraging in all the right ways’
Austin Davis co-led the topical conversation-based sessions with Bellevue Baptist College Pastor Daniel Harris, of Tennessee.
“We talked about how to have an engaging worship that attracts and disciples, effectively discipling a college ministry as it continues to grow, and explored what an effective campus outreach looks like in today’s culture,” noted Davis, who serves as campus pastor at the Starkville campus of Pinelake Church in Mississippi. He estimates close to 30 large churches were represented in the micro-conference, with about 70 total participants.
“The Summit was encouraging in all the right ways, and was a growing experience for me and my entire college team. There’s nothing better than being in a room worshipping with 700 college ministers from around the country – all facing the same struggles, moving in the same direction, and wanting to be in college ministry for the long haul,” Davis says.
The next Summit will be held May 5-7, 2027.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by freelance writer Julia Bell.
