Since the Rev. Alan Jones started ministering to the Baptist Student Union, its members have discussed selling their building on campus and created a leadership team instead of electing officers for the organization.
Seven students and Jones, who also ministers to university students at the First Baptist Church at the Boulevard and Monument intersection, established a ministry team to answer questions others have about the BSU. The team plans the group’s activities and programs as well as overseeing such matters as maintaining the building.
Stephanie Smith, a ministry-team member, said the union needed the team so the organization could revive itself once again. With the group leadership, she said more members now attend services, while others show interest in joining the organization.
Jones, who visits the campus Wednesdays and Thursdays, said he wants the ministry team to do more and intends to teach its members leadership skills.
“I’m interested in developing their character of leadership,” the Baptist Theological Seminary graduate said, adding that he wants the students to say: ‘This is my passion; this is where I want to serve.
“This is when ministry really happens.”
After five more members join the group next fall, it will become a 12-person team. Although Jones said he doesn’t know how the individuals will be chosen, he suggested that he and the team most likely will collaborate on the decision.
One BSU member, Wendy Belton, a senior social work major, said she likes having a ministry team rather than a slate of officers.
“The mission of BSU seems like it’s getting accomplished better,” she said of the team’s leadership. Nonteam members, she said, still have input into what goes on at the BSU, but the ministry-team implements its suggestions, which has made the ministry stronger.
“With the BSU being strong,” Belton said, “it’ll have a strong impact on VCU and on the BSU students.”
Jones said the team concept becomes even more important if the organization has to move because that’s when team members help decide what the organization would do should BSU lose its home. If that occurs, Smith, a psychology major, said members have talked about meeting at the Pace Center at 700 W. Franklin St., but they may need to discuss their meeting options with VCU officials.
“We’re still here and we’re still open,” she said. “(We are a) big happy family willing to accept everyone no matter what.”