Sam Ivy, director of collegiate ministries at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, created “The Ripp” podcast — short for “ripple” — in order to investigate that disconnect through openness and transparency.
By starting the dialogue, he hopes the podcast will help college students make faithful decisions today that cause a ripple effect for a spiritually healthy future.
Goal
“Overall, the goal of ‘The Ripp’ is for college students to hear from their peers, hear from their friends even, about the important things of life,” said Ivy. “So, we want spirituality to be the prevailing conversation. I feel like, sometimes the best kept secret in a college student’s life is the best part about them, which is their faith in Jesus.”
Ivy wants their faith to become the worst-kept secret among college students.
“This is what I tell them. I say, ‘Your goal is to be dropping breadcrumbs, because we’re just one beggar pointing other beggars to where they can find the bread of life.’ We’re trying to lead people who are spiritually hungry to the only one who can satisfy that.”
The first episode of “The Ripp” debuted Aug. 25, just as students are settling onto campus for the fall semester.
The remaining episodes will drop every Tuesday for the following four weeks.
Episodes
- Episode #1: “When you read the Bible, what is the primary purpose?”
Featuring Knox Leggett and Nathan Poole, Co-Lin Community College BSU students - Episode #2: “When life feels unstable or overwhelming, what do you turn to?”
Featuring Collin Breedlove, Mississippi Christian University 2026 graduate, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary student, and former statewide BSU president; and Bradon Epting, Mississippi State University 2026 graduate, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student, student pastor at First Baptist Church Kosciusko, and former statewide BSU vice president - Episode #3: “What is the church to you right now?”
Featuring Payton Boyd, Co-Lin Community College BSU director; and Nate Ball, college/missions pastor at First Baptist Church Clinton - Episode #4: “What makes having deep spiritual relationships difficult?”
Featuring Garrett Martin, Co-Lin Community College BSU student; and Emily Buchanan, Mississippi Christian University student - Episode #5: “How does the Great Commission impact college students’ lifestyle on campus and abroad?”
Featuring Landon Smith and Jeremiah Layton, Mississippi State University BSU students
Read more.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Megan Young and originally published by Mississippi’s The Baptist Record. It is used with permission.
