PHOTO BY FRANKIE SANCHEZ | BSM Rave
Beka Rutledge
Assisstant Editor
Web Editor’s Note: Click here to see more BSM Welcome Week photos.
With the school year beginning anew, the Baptist Student Ministry prepared several activities to welcome back previous students as well as transfer and freshman students.
“My favorite thing about welcome week is meeting new students and really making them feel welcome and at home,” said Tiffany Harris, the BSM intern.
The first event of the week was Monday’s Big Ball Soccer game. There were several students in attendance to bounce around the huge aired up beach ball. “I’m excited about the big freshman class,” said Buddy Young, the BSM director. “They have lots of energy and hearts for God.”
Skipping forward to Wednesday night the BSM held a cow tongue football game. A real cow tongue is used and the more it is thrown around the longer it stretches. It is a very interesting game and is enjoyed by many.
Thursday night the BSM held a Bible study followed by an intimate worship gathering. After that they held LATEnight, which included a build your own burrito session.
Several of the events such as Big Ball Soccer and Cow Tongue Football are annual events. However, the BSM added a new concept to the mix this year for the Tuesday night event.
“We are having a dance party with glow sticks and calling it a rave,” Michelle Campbell said. “People generally don’t think of those as Christian but we are making it clean.”
Those in attendance were able to dance and jump around to the pop and techno music that was provided. “I think it’s cool,” Michael Simms, a freshman in attendance, said. “It’s a great way to meet other freshmen.”
Another aspect that added to the energy of the rave was a performance by WT’s very own Step Team called the E.X. Clusive Steppaz. Captain Ben Abiola leads the group that includes First Lieutenant Marcus Fong, and three new freshmen Patrick Hill, Brandy Lopez, and Sedrick Wall.
“This is by far one of the best parties the BSM has ever had,” Harris said. “We might do it again this semester to raise money for missions.”
Finally, on Saturday, the BSM had a tailgate party at the football stadium to help kickoff the football season. Anyone could stop by and get painted up as little or as much as they desired to show their school spirit.
“There was a bigger turnout this year because of the large freshman class,” said Ryan Steele, President of the BSM.
The BSM offers free lunches every Wednesday starting at 12:15 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the free food and ministry. Also, they host several resident hall Bible studies as well as a few apartment complex Bible studies.