Kentucky State University BCM students

If Southern Baptists are to be a part of seeing the Great Commission fulfilled, one of the barriers we must ultimately overcome is that of racial prejudice. Much progress has been made but Sunday morning continues to be one of the most racially segregated times of the week in America. In this guest post, Curtis Woods, the Baptist campus minister for Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, shares how Baptist Campus Ministry students are helping to bring people together on the campus of this historically black school.

KSU BCM: A Story of Hope

“The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass,” says Philip Yancey.

This quote well captures the mission of the KSU BCM to “Keep the Savior’s priorities our Undying passion.” We summarize this purpose statement by teaching our students to “love God and love people.” In fact, one could say that our principle unit of thought concerning missional thinking and discipleship is pursuing “omnigeneous” (all people) rather than homogeneous (one people) relationships. This has proven an extremely difficult task in light of the “racialized society” in which we live. I borrow the phrase “racialized society” from Eduardo Bonilla-Silva’s, associate professor of sociology at Texas A&M University, work entitled “Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States.” In essence the word connotes “a society wherein race matters profoundly for differences in life experiences, life opportunities, and social relationships.” Or, put another way, it’s a society that has socially structured walls of separation which keep image-bearers from experiencing the beauty of unity in the midst of ethnic or economic diversity. A society that shuns the Lord’s High Priestly prayer that we become “one” as He and the Father are one united by the Spirit (John 17:22).

What are we to do?  Give up and long for the return of Christ without playing our role in bringing all people to the throne of grace in intimate relationships? May it never be. Rather, we must use our influence on the campuses of the world to change hearts and minds for God’s glory and our good.

A Kentucky State University small group. Campus Minister Curtis Woods is up front.

Last year, I saw a glimpse of heaven on earth as students from multiple cities, states, and countries came together under the umbrella of unity to campaign for one of our former student leaders, Elisabeth Martin, who felt led by God to run for the most coveted prize at Kentucky State University—University Queen. This may not seem like much to the casual reader until you understand that Elisabeth, a young Caucasian female from Waddy, Kentucky, believed that she could serve as the first Anglo American female Queen in the history of Kentucky State University, a historically Black College and University. Yes, she trusted God, and her peers, enough to attempt what many labeled as “dreaming the impossible dream.” As an active BCM member and International student leader, she believed that campaigning on the cross-cultural platform of love and unity would give her a chance to be heard and fully known by her peers. The campaign week was arduous. Her campaign manager and spokesperson, Casper Camau, a former BCM president and native of Kenya, provided Elisabeth with the nuts and bolts to become politically dexterous, meeting with and loving on students from urban centers and rural areas around the world. They all believed in her dream and passion, even though she made it known that she believed that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Obviously, as a Baptist campus minister, this brought great delight to my heart as I observed her unresolved commitment to the one True God in the public forum; a rare quality, indeed, for those who desire political correctness over Christian theological orthodoxy. Amazing! Humbling! Inspiring!

The sea of multi-ethnic students who worked in one accord to assist Elisabeth waited on Election Day with anxious expectation. They wondered what would take place. The numbers were counted…She won by a landslide!!! I believe it was around midnight when I received the call. It was the voice of Elisabeth Martin, panting and cracking as a result of tears of joy. She said, “Brother Woods…Brother Woods, we won.” I didn’t catch it then, but once I reflected on it the next day. The impact of her words hit me. “We won…” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.” The KSU BCM intentionally seeks to build relationships with all image-bearers in order to introduce them to the blessed hope of the gospel found in Jesus Christ alone to the glory of the Father by means of the Spirit. This is our ultimate joy.