Praises filled the sanctuary of First Baptist, Madison, as college students from across Mississippi gathered for the biannual College Student Conference on Sept. 27–28. Despite homecoming weekends and Hurricane Helene, more than 800 people attended, eager to fellowship and learn about the Creator’s immeasurable power.
“‘Unlimited’ was chosen for the theme to help point students to the reality that we should not limit the power of our God,” said Sam Ivy, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Collegiate Ministries director. “We wanted to help students understand that God’s call upon our lives to live as a Gospel light on our college campuses will be too much for one student, one BSU, one church … but God is unlimited in all that He can and will do.”
Rooted in Scripture
The theme was rooted in Ephesians 3:20–21, which says, “‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen’” (NKJV).
Tom Richter, pastor of First Baptist Church Cullman, Alabama, led the large group sessions through passages in Ephesians, culminating in verses 3:18–19.
“When Paul talks about the love of God, he goes beyond three dimensions. How?” Richter asked. “I have no idea. The four dimensional love of God — breadth, length, height and depth… That the love of Christ is four dimensions is not possible. It surpasses knowledge. He says that. ‘To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…’”
Throughout the conference, attendees participated in large groups and small groups, heard from BSU student leaders, and learned about summer missions opportunities. The conference provided the college students a break in the normal rhythms of everyday life and reminded them of the broader purpose of campus ministry.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chloe Newton and originally published by the Baptist Record.
