Baptist Student Ministries
Of SIU Edwardsville
Monthly Report - September 2009
Number of students/young adults currently registered in the ministry - 364

Testimonials
  • “Thank you so much Greg. and not just for this, but for everything you do and all the time you put
    into BSM people and events. i appreciate it so much, and i know everyone else does too. Have a
    good one! May God bless you!.” – GW
  • “This (devotional) message speaks so clearly to me! I really needed this right now. Thanks so
    much.” – CW
  • “I would like to thank you for the wonderful gift of prayer. Nothing is more comforting than
    knowing that someone is taking the time to offer assistance not only in times of need but for
    health in everyday life as well. I appreciate your care and concern.” – JS
  • “I am glad you sent me this (study Bible inquiry) because I have been praying lately for God to
    show me the best way to learn about his word.. Thank you and God bless you for this gift.” – KH
  • “Thank you so much! You are such a blessing. Since becoming a believer i have really wanted to
    get my hands on a NIV Life Application Study Bible but the price tag has always turned me off.
    What you're doing is great..” – JL
  • “I have heard of your incredible generosity that obviously comes from the Holy Spirit...it is such a
    blessing to have men like you on our campus pointing students to Christ.” – BS

Activities
  • Annual Camping and Float Trip was held on September 11-12 in Lesterville MO – 23 students
    participated
  • Scheduled October activities including Homecoming Game Pep Rally (October 10), Broomball
    (October 16), Trip To Godfrey Corn Maze (October 23) and Hayride/Bonfire (October 30).

Bible Studies/Discipleship
  • IBSA Axiom Conference – 11 students plus the director attended 2-day conference in Springfield
    IL
  • Three Bible Study/Discipleship groups were begun in September – a men’s group meeting on
    Wednesday nights averaging 6 guys, a ladies group meeting on Monday nights averaging 10
    ladies and a freshmen group averaging 6
  • Daily devotionals, written by BSM students and alums, are currently being sent to 242 students
    and others receiving them via e-mail, Facebook or the BSM website
  • Director provided copy of books, “Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts” and “Now That You’re
    Engaged” to 1 recently engaged BSM couple
  • Director provided a Life Application Bible to two students who requested one and a Quest Study
    Bible to a student who requested one
  • Director provided NJKV Bible on CD to student who needed one

Community Service/Mission
  • 12 people assisted a Springfield IL church with a service project on September 26 helping a
    recently saved Christian with clean-up of a residential property
  • Continued efforts through “Let’s Say Thanks – Postcards For Our Troops” group on Facebook –
    members send at least one postcard on a monthly basis through this program to the members of
    our armed forces serving overseas – sent reminders September 26th  - 272 people are currently
    participating in this service project

Outreach
  • Received 13 “hits” on the “myeverystudent” (www.trueanswers.org) network, a web-based
    evangelism/discipleship tool, in September with 1 decision being recorded.
  • Scheduled semi-monthly outreach tables starting in October in the SIUE University Center –
    ministry will alternate information between our free books ministry, special outreach efforts and
    our independent Bile study program.
  • Our “Free Books” Ministry continued in September with 48 of the following books being
    distributed through our Cougar Village Commons location and the BSM web site.– 11 NIV Bibles,
    6 pocket size New Testaments, 2  “More Than A Carpenter”, 5 “Case For A Creator”, 6 “Bible
    Encounters”, 3 “Basic Christianity”, 4 “Case For Faith”, 2 “He Did This Just For You”, 2 “Case For
    Christ, 3 “The Bible Promise Book” and 4 “My Utmost For His Highest”  
  • Continued maintenance of BSM outreach center as needed

Praise And Worship
  • Tuesday Night Praise Service held on campus each week with an average of 36 in attendance –
    Speakers included Tim Lawson (FBC Maryville), Tim Weihrauch (Heartland BC), student Timon
    Keller and Professor Greg Gomez
  • Visited Sunday morning worship services at Pontoon Baptist Church (September 6), LifePoint
    Church (September 13), FBC Maryville (September 20),  Metro Community Church (September
    27)

PrayerWorks
  • Prayer requests collected via e-mail, Facebook and through the web site are placed on the BSM
    website on a weekly basis for easy student access – confidential/sensitive requests are
    forwarded to a prayer group for private prayer

Publicity and Promotion
  • The BSM website homepage received 143 “hits” on our homepage with a total number of 904
    website page views in September – updates were made to the following pages: calendar and
    weekly update (updated each week), devotional (daily), weddings, anniversaries, monthly report,
    free books, activities, worship, bible studies,
  • Ran classified ads in the SIUE school newspaper (The Alestle) promoting the BSM, our free
    books ministry,  daily devotionals and the trueanswers.org website
  • Other Ongoing Weekly Updates - weekly e-mail with calendar of events and announcements sent
    to all students, local alumni and area churches as well as posted on web site and Facebook

Miscellaneous Activity        
  • Addressed and sent cards to all students and alumni with birthdays/anniversaries in September
    (59)
  • Prepared and sent monthly reports for Illinois Baptist State Association, Gateway Baptist
    Association, Holiday Shores Baptist Church, Whitelaw Avenue Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist
    Church Of Edwardsville, Bethesda Baptist Church, Union Church Of LaHarpe IL, Pontoon Baptist
    Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Pinckneyville – report posted on
    BSM website
  • Held Leadership meetings on September 13, 20, 27