Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

why the bcm

"Coming to UT last year I thought I had life all figured out. It was not long after I came to college that my world was greatly changed from how I expected college to be. The biggest part of this was feeling lonely for most of the first semester. I even found myself questioning my decision to go to UT. However, the BCM was my one constant through that first hard semester.

One thing I really like about the BCM is how there is always someone around. There were multiple nights that I would have nothing to do. I would run into people from the BCM and spontaneously be invited to join them to hang out. Having a group of supportive people like that helped me grow and depend more on Christ and even helped me find my church home in Knoxville.

Everyone is starting new during their first semester of college. When trying to find friends, everyone is alone at first. Getting involved in the BCM helped remind me that I was never alone. They became my friends. They are my family."

—Bart Rhoades

"My UT journey began my sophomore year of college. As a transfer student I was eager to make friends and make up for lost time. Unfortunately, I decided to do this my way and put my spiritual life on the back burner. Halfway through my first year I found myself spiritually stagnant and starved for Christian fellowship. It was at the BCM that I was finally able to begin growing again and to find the loving support of fellow Christians.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, "For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion." We were not meant to experience the joys, trials, temptations, late nights, and final exams of college alone. I am so thankful for the many times I have been lifted up by the helping hands of my friends at the BCM. I am excited to be that "helping hand" for freshman and transfer students that make the BCM their home away from home."

—Kayla Williams

		"Coming to UT last year I thought I had life all figured out. It was not long after I came to college that my world was greatly changed from how I expected college to be. The biggest part of this was feeling lonely for most of the first semester. I even found myself questioning my decision to go to UT. However, the BCM was my one constant through that first hard semester. One thing I really like about the BCM is how there is always someone around. There were multiple nights that I would have nothing to do. I would run into people from the BCM and spontaneously be invited to join them to hang out. Having a group of supportive people like that helped me grow and depend more on Christ and even helped me find my church home in Knoxville. Everyone is starting new during their first semester of college. When trying to find friends, everyone is alone at first. Getting involved in the BCM helped remind me that I was never alone. They became my friends. They are my family." —Bart Rhoades

		"My UT journey began my sophomore year of college. As a transfer student I was eager to make friends and make up for lost time. Unfortunately, I decided to do this my way and put my spiritual life on the back burner. Halfway through my first year I found myself spiritually stagnant and starved for Christian fellowship. It was at the BCM that I was finally able to begin growing again and to find the loving support of fellow Christians. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, "For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion." We were not meant to experience the joys, trials, temptations, late nights, and final exams of college alone. I am so thankful for the many times I have been lifted up by the helping hands of my friends at the BCM. I am excited to be that "helping hand" for freshman and transfer students that make the BCM their home away from home." —Kayla Williams