Short Circuit Vol 5 Num 6

We have to face reality! There will never be enough Campus Bible Fellowship missionaries to meet all the requests we have to establish campus ministries throughout the U.S. However, there are enough biblically sound local independent Baptist churches to meet this challenge.

With this in mind, Rev. Steve Butler, Baptist Mid-Missions' Executive Administrator for the North America Field Council, asked us to assume a new CBF ministry, which we accepted.

Our new title is Southeastern Regional CBF Missionaries. Among the key things in our job description are:

1. To prepare seminars for local churches that will instruct them in how to establish and maintain a CBF Chapter.
2. To provide on-campus assistance to aid churches in their outreach to secular colleges and universities.
3. To provide monthly contacts with each church through phone, e-mail and return visits for their encouragement.
4. To be available continually for consultation.

During the school year of 2003-04 we had the tremendous opportunity of helping Jeff and Kim Abernethey start a CBF Chapter at the Univ. of N. Carolina at Charlotte.

A few months ago we received an e-mail from Ron Faith, Pastor of Evangel Baptist Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, requesting that we help them go through the steps to establish a CBF ministry in his city.

A community college is there, and the Univ. of Maryland will greatly expand its existing branch there when it opens a new facility next spring. We suggested that a meeting be held in which we could talk with those who are interested in campus outreach. Of those who attended, two are currently students at the community college. The steps for getting established with a school's administration on a campus were shared, as well as the basic ingredients needed to sustain a ministry through group Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship, social activities and retreats. We had a good question and answer time at the end of our session after which all of us were encouraged to pursue a CBF ministry in Hagerstown!

On Sept. 19th we had the privilege of meeting with Pastor Ron Faith, his wife, Sarah, and some key members of Evangel Baptist Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, to begin to help them form a CBF ministry.

If your local church is interested in the possibility of establishing a CBF ministry at a nearby secular college or university (especially in the southeastern section of the U.S.), you are invited to contact us by phone or e-mail: 336.788.5922 (gswscbf@aol.com).

Sincerely in Christ,

Gary and Wilma Sammons