Monday, November 12th, through Sunday, December 16th, 2007

States: New York, New Jersey (#21), Delaware (#22), Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida (#23), Alabama (#24), Mississippi (#25), Louisiana (#26), New Mexico (#27)

Campuses Visited

  • New York University (NYU)
  • Princeton University
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Richmond
  • University of Florida
  • Samford University / Beeson Divinity School
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • University of Alabama
  • Louisiana State University (LSU)
  • New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Tulane University
  • The University of Southern Mississippi
  • William Carey University
  • Mississippi College
  • Belhaven College
  • Millsaps College
  • Louisiana Tech
  • The University of Louisiana at Monroe
  • University of New Mexico

Collegiate Ministry Visits

  • Sunday school, Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Sun. 11-18, Charlton teaching
  • Sunday school, Brook Hills Church, Sun. 11-18, Interim College Minister Britten Taylor teaching
  • Reformed University Fellowship, Samford University, Mon. 11-19
  • Bible study, Campus Outreach Birmingham, Mon. 11-26, Director Owen Stubbs speaking
  • Chapel, Samford University, Tues. 11-27, Professor Lowell Vann performing
  • Consecration service, Beeson Divinity School, Tues. 11-27, Frank Limehouse, Dean of Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham, AL, speaking
  • Common Meal, Samford University Ministries
  • “Shiloh” worship gathering, Samford University Ministries, Minister to the University Matt Kerlin speaking
  • The Well service, Calvary Baptist Church, 11-28, College Minister Ben Pilgreen speaking
  • Thursday Night Together, LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministries, 11-29
  • “Refuge” college service, Chapel on the Campus, Baton Rouge, LA, 12-2, “Behold the Lamb of God” worship musical with a short message by Campus Outreach Director Josh LaRavia
  • College worship gathering, First Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS, 12-5
  • Sunday school, First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS
  • College dinner and fellowship, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, LA, 12-9
  • College ministry leaders’ meeting, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, LA, 12-10
  • “Soul Food” lunch, Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Lousiana Tech, 12-11
  • “56″ Bible study, Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Louisiana Tech, 12-11, Kathy Nelson, Director of College Ministries, Calvary Baptist Church, speaking
  • “Store 23″ Bible study, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, LA, 12-12

Church Visits

  • Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL, Sun. 11-18 (brief visit)
  • Brook Hills Church, Birmingham, AL, Sun. PM 11-18, Senior Pastor David Platt preaching
  • Believers Service, Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, AL, Wed. 11-21
  • Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, AL, 8am Sun. 11-25
  • Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL, 9:45 Sun. 11-25
  • Church of the Highlands, Tuscaloosa Campus, 11:15 Sun. 11-25 (brief visit)
  • Bethany World Prayer Center, Baker, LA, 6:30pm Sat. 12-1, Pastor Larry Stockstill preaching
  • Healing Place Church, Baton Rouge, LA, 8am Sun. 12-2, Pastor Dino Rizzo preaching
  • Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA, 10:30am Sun. 12-2, Pastor Matt Surber preaching
  • Pinelake Church, Brandon, MS, 8am Sun. 12-9, Senior Pastor Chip Henderson preaching
  • First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS, “The Link” service 12-9
  • Evening service, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, LA, 12-9

Interviews & Other “Exploring” Activities

  • Interview, Tom Mauriello, Executive Director, Great Commission Ministries, Winter Park, FL
  • Interview, Eric Linton, College Intern, Hunter Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL
  • Interview, Chad Cossiboom, University Minister, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL
  • Interview, Bill Morrison, Campus Minister, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Interview, Britten Taylor, Interim College Minister, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, AL
  • Interview, Matt Kerlin, Minister to the University, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
  • Interview, Jason Sterling, Campus Pastor, Reformed University Fellowship, Samford University
  • Interview, Brian Phillips, Campus Outreach Birmingham
  • Interview, Ben Pilgreen, College Minister, Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Ministry discussion, Mandy Trammell, Associate Director, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, LSU
  • Interview, Jordan Jopling, Director, 220U (university ministry), Bethany World Prayer Center, Baker, LA
  • Interview, Steve Masters, Director, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, LSU
  • Interview, Justin McCain, College Minister, Istrouma Baptist Church
  • Ministry discussion, Allen Jackson, Professor of Youth Education, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, with members of his college ministry class / New Orleans Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministries staff
  • Campus tour of Tulane University and ministry discussion, Corey Olivier, Director, New Orleans Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministries
  • Interview, Sharon Miles and Stacey Clark, college ministry staff, First Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS
  • Interview, Colbey Sparkman, Communications Specialist, National Collegiate Ministries, Southern Baptist Convention; recent Minister to Collegiates, First Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS
  • Interview, Byron Malone, Minister to Students, First Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS
  • Interview, Michael Manuel, college and singles pastor, Pinelake Church, Brandon, MS
  • Interview, Tim Peabody, College Minister, Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Clinton, MS
  • Interview, Brian Sorgenfrei, College Minister, Millsaps Christian Fellowship / First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
  • Interview and much ministry discussion, Casey Casady, Minister to College Students, Temple Baptist Church, Ruston, LA
  • Interview, Kevin Inman, Director, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Lousiana Tech
  • Interview, Kathy Nelson, Director of College Ministries, Calvary Baptist Church, Ruston, LA
  • Interview, Todd Strain, Director, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, The University of Louisiana at Monroe

Special Event: Ivy Jungle Collegiate Conference

As my first event once I got to the South, I had the great opportunity to attend the semi-annual Ivy Jungle Collegiate Conference in Orlando. This time included several great connections with fellow college ministers and others involved in the field of Collegiate Ministry.

Major connections included spending time and discussing ministry with quite a few employees of the Coalition for Christian Outreach… much ministry discussion with Lori Adams and Kelly Sharpe of Christian Educators at Iowa State… connecting with Judy Peterson, Campus Pastor of North Park University… connecting with Ben Dockery, Director of Campus Ministries, Union University… and connecting with and interviewing Jeremy Story, President of Campus Renewal Ministries. Of course, I met several other great people during the conference.

Special Event: Collegiate Leaders Retreat, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

This chapter basically began with a conference, and it was capped off by another; this was a gathering of Texas college ministers in Glorieta, NM. The main speaker was Kevin Ueckert, Senior Pastor, South Side Baptist Church, Abilene, TX. However, we also had several ministry discussions, and I even got to share a couple of times about my trip and what I was learning.

Next… It was time for a break. A wonderful Winter Break.