A BCM and Multiple Churches Partnership Model - Bill Morrison, UAB

 Bill Morrison, BCM Campus Minister at University of Alabama, Birmingham, has developed a strong partnership model with different churches in the Birmingham area.  When Bill first went to UAB, the Director of Missions for the Birmingham area told him, "Re-discover the director's hat that campus ministers have largely put aside.  BCM was stronger when campus ministers were called directors and saw themselves as coordinating collegiate work with churches, not merely doing collegiate work on behalf of churches."

Out of that they have developed partnerships where different churches focus on reaching a particular group of students.  Here is a list of their partnerships:

 Christian Medical Fellowship (Medical, Dental, Optometry and other students pursuing a degree as a health professional).

Unite Greek Fellowship (Fraternity and Sorority students and their invited guests), Hunter Street Baptist Church

Chinese Bible Study (International students from China), Chinese Christian Church of Birmingham.

Doctrinal Study in Mandarin (International students and Scholars from China), Shades Mountain Baptist Church

Commuter Bible Study, Fultondale First Baptist Church

Resident Assistants, Lakeside Baptist Church

Some of the Agreements:

1.  Ask for a 3 year minimum commitment.

2.  Offer the use of the BCM Student Center for a 2-3 hour block of time each with to help facilitate the partnership Emphasize that the use of the building is to reach the targeted group of students, not create another come one, come all ministry.

3.  Tell them the BCM will actively recruit interested students to assist in the partnership.

4.  Ask them to split any expenses 50/50.  Some churches wind up covering all the expenses.

5.  Ask to meet with the pastor or executive pastor to bring them into the loop on the agreement and purpose of the partnership.

Results: "During the 2018-19 school year, we had 49 professions of faith in our ministry with 32 of those through our church partnerships.  During the past 10 years we have had over 175 Chinese students and scholars accept Christ.  Each one of these churches have seen UAB students attend and join their churches--small medium, and large churches."  Bill Morrison, UAB

This is an edited account of how Bill has done this and the different activities that each church has done in outreach and ministry to their group of students.

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