It isn’t her first time to ride in the “Jesus Vans”, so Haley, a college student from Nebraska, thinks she knows the reason why the vans provide free rides, anywhere on Padre Island, during spring break.
“It’s about your religion,” she says.
A student from the University of Texas at Tyler nods. That’s it, she responds, sort of — and in explaining the purpose for the “Jesus vans,” a gospel conversation unfolds.
It’s one of nearly 10,000 similar moments during Beach Reach, an annual effort led by Baptist Student Ministries (BSM) of Texas Baptists, to reach college students for Jesus.
‘Concentrated gospel opportunity’
Every March, as tens of thousands flock to the Texas Gulf Coast looking for a party during spring break, hundreds of other college students are there as well, volunteering to serve, hoping to show the love of Christ — and to help the visitors come to know Him too.
Joe Osteen, BSM director at UT-Tyler and one of the coordinators of Beach Reach, calls it a “concentrated gospel opportunity” and a “strategic moment in the rhythm of college life.”
From March 4–17 when most colleges and universities were on spring break, 1,017 Beach Reach volunteers from BSM and churches across Texas and several other states provided 17,765 safe rides, had 9,670 gospel conversations and prayed with 7,229 people.
Nearly 185 professed faith in Christ and 91 more prayed to recommit their lives to Him; 49 were baptized in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The light shines brightest where it’s darkest,” said Reid Burkett, director of BSM at the University of Texas at San Antonio. “They’re so open to hearing about Jesus.”
Beach Reach is a massive operation. Along with van rides, teams of Texas Baptist Men served 18,737 free pancakes during very late breakfasts in the parking lot of Island Baptist Church and in the wee hours of the morning outside one of the island’s most popular bars. They also served first responders.
Additionally, each day teams of Beach Reach volunteers hit the beaches too, but instead of soaking up the sun they helped clean them, and spread out looking for opportunities for evangelism.
But there’s never such a concentrated gospel opportunity as the van rides. Very few turn down the offer of free rides anywhere on the island. Many make use of the service by calling a central hotline and reaching a call center set up in a second-floor classroom at Island Baptist, the nerve center for Beach Reach.
Most rides last only a few minutes — a half-hour at the longest. Early in the week many don’t know what to make of the vans filled with peers eager to talk. But as the week goes on, meaningful moments occur.
“Sometimes it’s a spring breaker’s fourth, fifth, sixth time on a van, and they’re ready for a spiritual conversation,” Osteen said. “Or sometimes on a Wednesday night they’ll say, ‘OK guys, why are you doing this?’”
Sharing the gospel
One night BSM students from UT-Tyler squeezed into the van dubbed “Orange VANta” (part of Beach Reach tradition involves nicknaming the vans — usually with a pun on the word “van” — and decorating them. There’s “Apollo Ele-van,” “VANtom Menace,” “VANimal Crackers,” etc.).
Driven by Amber Bader, associate director of the UT-Tyler BSM, Orange VANta traversed the streets from 11 p.m. until a little after 1 a.m., picking up spring breakers and dropping them off. Most often they are headed out to find a party, and on their way they’re introduced to Jesus. Many are open to listening.
“It’s a little weird, but spring breakers are here to meet people,” Osteen said.
Like Haley, the student from Nebraska.
Around 11:15 p.m. she and some friends climb into Orange VANta, headed from their rented condo to Louie’s, one of South Padre’s most popular clubs. Yes, Becca Langley tells Haley, the vans are here because of religion — or actually, because of the relationships the students from UT-Tyler have with Jesus Christ. She explains that they hope Haley and her friends can have the same relationship.
“We do it,” says Becca, a freshman at Angelina College in Lufkin, “because Jesus is the ultimate gift.”
Macy Weatherford, a sophomore from UT-Tyler, asks, “Would you consider yourself a believer?”
“I don’t know,” Haley says. “I’m more wishy-washy. When times are tough, I pray.”
A few minutes later she asks, “How do you know when you’re saved? How do you know when God knows you?”
Meanwhile, in the back of the van Alex and Eli are talking with Derek, one of Haley’s friends.
“There’s this big hole in your heart,” Alex is saying. And the conversation goes on, street by street, until the van pulls to the side of the road about a block from the club.
But Haley isn’t ready to get out just yet. For another five minutes she asks questions.
Finally, her friends say it’s time to go. But first Macy asks, “Can we pray for you?” And the van gets quiet as she asks God to protect the students and show them the truth of who Jesus is.
In the moments afterward the BSM students debrief. Whether they listened or seemed more interested, like Haley, gospel seeds are sown — and for more than 40 years that has been the overarching purpose and goal of Beach Reach.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to share with people,” said Elija McClain, a UT-Tyler senior. “I have a heart for God, and it’s one of my earnest pleas for people to know Christ.”
Impacting a campus near you?
And Beach Reach often becomes Campus Reach.
“All these students come back to campus feeling different, talking different and living different,” said Nathan Mahand, BSM director at Houston Christian University. “They have a burden for the lost.”
This story was edited for length and brevity. To read full story, click here.
Read more stories related students and ministry here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by George Schroeder and originally published by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
