BSM Offers Numerous Bible Studies

(ABILENE, Texas)–HSU’s Baptist Student Ministries (BSM) offers opportunities for students to serve their university and community, but it also emphasizes the spiritual development of all students, which is especially vital with the approaching advent season. One way students can grow in their faith is through the various Bible studies offered by the BSM. With studies such as Woven for women, Broven for men, and Fish Food for first year students, there is a topic for everyone.

Woven

Woven stands for Women of Virtue, Encouragement, and Nobility. The study emphasizes close relationships woven together in love. Woven meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the BSM, and this semester, participants are studying the book of Romans.

Woven Women’s Ministry

“It’s not necessarily just a Bible study, but it’s a time of accountability and checking up on each other and our lives,” said Kylie Bena, Bible study leader for Woven. “We have weeks where we will be in Woven for almost two hours just talking and hanging out after we finish our study! The purpose is for girls to want to grow in their faith with friends.”

Bena said the best experience she has had leading Woven is listening to students engage in scripture discussions with confidence. “The discussion basis is one of the best parts of Woven because everyone is leading the study instead of just me talking and preaching!”

The Bible study is important to Bena because it allows the girls to study a book of the Bible in-depth. “The girls always have something to say about the passage that not all of us have thought about,” she said. “Every week all the girls say ‘preach girl!’ to another girl about something they’re saying!”

Bena said she wanted to lead Woven to grow in her faith with girls all over campus that she may not have had the chance to meet. In addition to studying scripture, the group fellowships through coffee outings to Monk’s and going out to eat together.

Broven

Broven men’s ministry meets on Monday nights at 6:30 in the basement of Moody Center. Broven is also studying Romans.

Kory Dobbins, this year’s Broven leader, says his experience has been amazing and rewarding. “I love seeing people engage in conversation and share their creative thoughts,” he said. “Broven, being a community discussion, means everyone’s input is welcome at any time. It leads to interesting points, and as someone who plans to teach for a career, I love seeing people grow in knowledge and spiritually.”

Dobbins says the Romans study is an opportunity to “take the words of Paul and apply them to our daily lives as brothers in Christ and disciples…and see how we can further our discipleship through his instructions.”

Fish Food

This Bible study provides a time of fellowship for first year students on campus. Fish Food meets every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the BSM. It is led by a team of upperclassmen who love helping freshmen on their journey through their first semester.

Jack Lowry, one of the leaders, says he has seen a Christ-centered community develop among the students who attend. “Some of them have stepped up and led their peers through worship, and I have seen many people form friendships as the semester has progressed,” he said. “It has been a blessing to see the relationships grow, and there have been many fruitful conversations at Fish Food that have resulted from it,” he said.

Lowry said Fish Food is important because it provides freshmen a consistent opportunity to study scripture together. “It also provides an opportunity for our team (sophomores and older) to lead Bible studies, facilitate discussion, and pour into those who are in a similar place in life that we were just in ourselves. My hope and prayer is that through this ministry this year’s freshmen will be prepared to turn and do likewise,” he said.

Lowry said he wanted to help lead a BSM Bible study to encourage his peers. “Being a freshman last year, I knew how daunting it was to move to a new place and seek community,” he said. “I have hoped to provide an opportunity for that to take place and allow God to work through this team.”

Reach

Students worshiping at Reach

Every Wednesday at 8 p.m., the BSM gathers for a time of looking at the Bible and discussing it in a group setting. Reach is meant to be a safe space for skeptics and anyone who wants to ask honest questions about Christianity. This event has some elements of a worship service and other elements that are more focused on open discussion. Anyone is welcome to attend and interact with these topics. This semester, Reach is studying the parables of Jesus.

Reach serves people who are not connected to a local church, students who are not Christians, and students who have questions about the Christian faith.

“We want to take people’s questions seriously, and create a safe environment and atmosphere where they can ask them,” said Tanner Clarke, BSM Director.

While Woven and Broven allow students to study the Bible deeply, Reach is designed to create an unintimidating atmosphere in the BSM courtyard. Clarke hopes that Reach can fill the gap for students who are struggling with their faith, and he believes it also gives BSM student leaders in the BSM the opportunity to talk and help answer other students’ questions.