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It has been quite eventful here at The Baptist College of Florida as the Fall semester begins to come to a close. This month has been filled with travel, training, and triumph as students played hard and served even harder at various events. For all of the wonderful people who can’t make it to campus, we want to keep you in the loop, so here’s what has been going on around campus and beyond!
At the beginning of the month, Noah Wagner, Student Pastor at FBC Bonifay and BCF Alumnus, opened a discussion on the Christian’s responsibility in the midst of the refugee crisis at our BCM’s Coffee Hour. Coffee Hour is an avenue for our students to reflect and work through some of the questions that require Christians to exercise thoughtful care in answering. Our world is in great need of the attention that the Word of God gives to our day to day lives, and we like to work through answering difficult questions with careful biblical insight over coffee with friends.
Java Night, different from Coffee Hour, is the night you find out what kind of talents the student body at The Baptist College of Florida really has. They may be majoring in Ministry, Business, or Education, but you soon find out that campus is full of singers, pianists, gymnasts, and even an amateur illusionist. Of course, there was also some hot java available to keep everyone awake after a long day of classes.
Following that, on November 9, a student and alumni reception was held in Daniel Plaza for College President, Dr. Thomas A. Kinchen and Mrs. Ruth Ann, to celebrate and thank them for all the ways the Kinchen family has made a mark on each of our lives. A few days later, it was time for the Florida Baptist Convention annual meeting, hosted in Pensacola. Some faculty, staff, and students packed up and traveled together to serve at our state convention. During our time together future plans for BCF were laid out before the Convention and Dr. Kinchen was honored by the convention for his three decades of faithful service.
Another group traveling this month was Dr. Rich Elligson’s class, which trains students on how to engage Catholics with the gospel. As a part of that course, theology students went to a monastery in Birmingham, Alabama, to meet with a tour guide and other church staff to learn specific information about the Catholic faith, straight from the source. The class got to tour the multi-million-dollar shrine as well as the Ave Maria Grotto and the Divino Niño gift shop; just a fraction of the 400-acre property.
Back in Graceville, team captains Seth Fondren and Nathan Washington led their teams in a head-to-head battle at the end of the Intramural Flag Football season. Fondren’s team consisted of Joshua Price, Justice Ballard, Hannah Poldvee, Emily Hobbs, Clint Martin, and Derrick Adams, all of whom worked together for their overwhelming victory.
Just in case you were wondering, Christmas starts a little early here at BCF so that students get a chance to enjoy the beautifully decorated campus before going home for the break. The Christmas Musical was held in the R.G. Lee Chapel on November 17-18, showcasing the vocal and instrumental talent of our Music and Worship Division for family and friends of the college. After the second performance, the Education Division got to serve the community a little Christmas cheer at the Holiday Heritage Festival. Vendors gathered in Heritage Village to sell everything from farmers’ market goods to birdhouses to handmade toys, not to mention the classic meals of chili and chicken perloo were served under the Grand Bobby Pavilion alongside a plethora of desserts. Along with our many guests from near and far, local public-school students came to tour the many historic buildings kept at Heritage Village and learn about the significant history that occurred in each structure.
As soon as everyone made their way back from Thanksgiving break, Christmas Karaoke and Midnight Breakfast were lined up the evening of November 28. Current student, Katherine Tipton shared, “I love the fact that everyone gets out there and supports their friends, and puts themselves out there to try new things and sing. Christmas Karaoke is a fun event that I think every student should attend!” Silas Smelser stated, “I love my school and the amazing faculty for all the love and care they put into serving us for Midnight Breakfast. We all really appreciate the break.” Both events foster a strong bond between students and give everyone a reprieve from studying for finals.
In preparation for graduation on December 9, Student Preaching, Senior Honors Day, and Senior Recitals were held November 28-29. Luke Allen, President of the Fall 2022 graduating class, was nominated as this semester’s student preacher for Chapel on November 28. He also got to introduce the class at Honors Day, and the Vice president, Dylan Gary presented the senior project. Most classes present a diorama of their project, but, since the project this year is a campus fire-pit, the class presented Dr. Kinchen with s’mores ingredients, which he called, “the most fulfilling class gift [he’s] ever received.”
For more information on any of these events or updates on future events at The Baptist College of Florida, please call us at 800.328.2660 or visit the website at www.baptistcollege.edu.