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| Crystal Ham, April Adams, Lauren Vincent Thomas, Shelley Petit Stinson |
If one's major would have been determined
by hours of time spent on a particular activity, mine would have been BCM. I
arrived at the University of South Carolina in 2002 a bit apprehensive of
everyone and everything, yet determined to not spend my next four years with
all of the same people I went to high school with. It took me a couple of weeks
to make my way to a BCM activity. The Main Street Center had just been bought
and renovations had barely begun. I remember standing in the front room at the
Center and meeting Jane (campus minister) for the first time. She asked me if
I'd like to see the "new Center." I thought we were going to get in a
car and drive somewhere so I warily agreed. Then she proceeded to take me
around the grungey building and tell me the vision of the new student center.
Little did I know, but I would invest a large amount of my time, effort, blood
(yes, pretty sure I smashed my finger knocking out old windows once), sweat and
tears into that building itself and the activities within it.
I decided to go against caution and go on
the fall retreat. I think the only reason why I went was because Jane told me I
needed to video the weekend. I never would have gone without being given a
task. I left Columbia on a Friday barely knowing a soul and came back that
Sunday afternoon with some of the best friends of my life (and the first of
many video tapes full of memories). I got involved in everything, Bible
studies, service projects, outreach, fundraising, intramurals, media ministry,
whatever was going on, I had my hand in it.
The summer after my freshman year, I went
to Kansas as a summer missionary through BCM. It wasn't the best trip of my
life, but it was an experience from which I continue to learn. During my time
in the Heartland, I was able to reach a new level of honesty with myself and
God.
The rest of my college career, I served
on BCM's council and was president my (first) senior year. I saw the BCM
building go from a dust covered renovation project to a functioning and
thriving student center where laughter, worship and life was shared amongst the
seeking souls who passed through its doors. Because of BCM, I serve in my
church, Shandon Baptist, on the Media Ministry volunteer staff, teaching Bible
studies, planning events for my Sunday School class and more. If BCM wouldn't
have been there, it's likely I would never have opened my mind to attending a
larger/different church than what I was raised. I wouldn't have realized the
ministry opportunities available to me, nor would I have seen some of the
potential in myself.
April Adams
USC-Columbia
Class of 2006
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