The Red and Black

The Baptist Student Union has a praise band play during Gathering on Tuesday nights. (Special - The Red & Black) [Click to enlarge]

Campus ministries offer many different avenues for students of almost any religion to take - worship, mission trips and friendships.

Leah Crowder, a senior religion major from Columbus, is the student leader for New Dawg Nite, a weekly event sponsored by the Baptist Student Union that is specifically designed for freshmen.

They gather every Thursday upstairs at the BSU chapel for a night of activities and worship.

"Some (meetings) are more of a fellowship, where we eat donuts and stuff, and others are more ... scripture based," Crowder said.

The program, which Crowder said usually has about 60 people in attendance, is just one of many worship services at BSU.

But incoming freshmen who want to participate in worship may be overwhelmed by large attendance at BSU, so they can get a more comfortable experience with this.

"(New Dawg Nite) is kind of keyed down so freshmen can get to know people," said Crowder, adding that past events include dinner, games, movies and outreach.

Another ministry trying to expand its membership on campus with events aimed at students' interests is the relatively recent New Life Fellowship, a nondenominational Christian organization.

Chief Officer John LaValley and his group are trying to reach the student body through its weekly Bible study and social activities both on and off campus.

One of these outside events includes a worship service with minister Wayman Michell, a worldwide speaker who has seen and witnessed to many individuals suffering from diseases.

"We also plan to hold several music events in the Tate Plaza as we did last semester," LaValley said about events in March and April.

There are also ministries sponsoring alternative spring and summer breaks.

Reed Walters, a graduate of the University and a third year intern at the Wesley Foundation, said in addition to taking a group up to Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina relief, there will be other mission trips to New York and Brazil.

Application deadlines have passed for those trips this year, but there will be more opportunities in the coming years.

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