Arjay Gruspe

Baptist Collegiate Ministries Director – Arjay Gruspe HPBC 2021 Annual Meeting Report for November 2020 – November 2021

This was a challenging year for everyone around the world, but especially in the ministry year for collegiate work in the HPBC. We have Baptist Collegiate Ministries serving primarily on Oahu (BCMOahu, International Ministries) and the Big Island (HiloBCM). In the pandemic year, we continued in doing ministry while campuses were on lockdown and had shifted most activity online.

The following are statistics for our last year of service (Fall 2020-Spring 2021) for all the BCM work on Oahu (BCM Oahu, International Ministries) and Big Island (HiloBCM): • 272 Collegians impacted in Campus Ministry programs • 100 Collegians involved in Campus Ministry programs • $100 Total of all contributions to student missions • 85 Collegians educated about the Cooperative Program • 22 Collegians involved in leadership development • 1 Conversion of college students • 3 Conversions of others • 4 Collegians preparing for church-related vocations • 36 Collegians involved in evangelism • 72 Collegians involved in Bible study or discipleship small groups • 20 International students involved • 39 Collegians involved in community ministries/missions • 1 Collegians serving in Summer or Semester Missions • 8 Collegians serving on short-term mission trips • 18 Churches assisted by collegiate ministry • 70 Number of meaningful church leader contacts

Like many ministries in Hawaii and around the world, with the continuing challenges of COVID-19, we have had to reimagine what it would take to reach the Next Generation for Christ. Our ministries moved to virtual platforms like Zoom, Facebook Live, Discord, Instagram and Facetime. Ministries did their best to reach students through various means: continued English partners with internationals, English classes over Zoom and in small limited groups, worship gatherings virtually, online cooking classes, drive through meal giveaways, joint ministry worship and prayer gatherings online, virtual bible studies and discipleship groups, game nights, movie nights online, and small group gatherings to connect with students.

The BCM Dorm continued to be closed and Mission Trips and outreach projects planned for the Summer 2021 were cancelled. Collegiate Week, our SBC annual collegiate retreat resumed under the leadership of SBC BCM State Directors, but because of the pandemic challenges, HPBC BCM’s did not send any students.

With the pandemic loosening up regulations on the Big Island, our HiloBCM continued meeting in person for weekly worship. Ohana Church graciously opened their space to BCM so that they could gather in limited numbers and observe safe distancing practices. They also streamed the service online for the students that could not attend in person. HiloBCM also opened up the center weekly and for special events, having students sign up for open slots. This allowed the ministry to stay within island mandates for safety protocols.

Small groups and discipleships were also instrumental in keeping students connected and growing.

International Ministries did not have weekly lunch due to the continuing restrictions for COVID but stayed active through small groups and English classes. Volunteers continued to be English partners and the ministry continued to find ways to connect with internationals.

BCMOahu remained online in the Spring. Using various platforms, BCM held small groups, and connection events such as game nights to keep students active and growing. With more opportunities with loosening pandemic restrictions, Discipleship groups of 3-4 met live in various locations around the island. The weekly worship gathering also shifted from completely online to a combination of small groups meeting live in various locations and students online, all connected through Zoom.

Our HiloBCM started the semester with a student retreat, with our IMB missionaries, Phillip and Ashleigh Irwin family leading in teaching and evangelism training. Our BCMManoa began their semester with a staff and student leader retreat with NAMB National Evangelism Director, Paul Worcester, leading training in the area of evangelism as well. Our International Baptist Ministry began the semester with their annual Big Giveaway, with so many churches donating household goods for over 150 internationals to come and be blessed as they started their semester.

As the Fall semester got underway, ministries began to experience more possibilities with more open gathering rules and campuses allowing more student life activities. Worship services were now in-person, maintaining group size restrictions and safety protocols. Small group activities resumed as well, using the utmost in safety measures. God has truly blessed thus far. We have seen salvations every week since the semester began and over 250 interested contacts for our staffs to follow up with! Many students are also diving into discipleship groups and small group Bible studies!

This semester marks the end of a 10-year ministry filled with amazing stories and impact for our Director, Carlye Lawrence. Her tenure has been marked with effective ministry, leadership development, and gospel sharing with hundreds of international students from all around the world. We are so grateful for her ministry and prayerful for the next chapter in her ongoing ministry in the Lord. We are excited to welcome John Allison as the new Director. He comes with 15 years of experience with BCM-Manoa and knows full well what it takes to reach college students. He has always had a strong pull toward missions and internationals, so we are excited to see him take the baton and now lead our International Baptist Ministry.

At BCM-Manoa, we welcome Noah and Hannah Denney to the staff. They served with Christian Challenge (California Baptist Convention’s version of BCM) in Chico and bring so much experience and love for students to the BCM staff team. Thank you for your continued support of Next Generation Ministries. We covet your prayers and look forward to how we can partner with and serve you in this area of ministry.