Baptist Student Union provides free food

– Posted on February 12, 2020Posted in: Lifestyle, Local, New and Noteworthy, Uncategorized

Glory Reitz 

Assistant Editor 

BSU students enjoy five days at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in January.

Crowder’s branch of the Baptist Student Union (BSU) is focused on reaching out to students through fellowship, friendliness and most importantly, food. 

The BSU hosts a weekly free lunch in their building at 4151 Beaumont St., a half-mile down the road from Crowder’s Neosho campus, according to Aaron Werner, BSU director. Local churches help support these lunches; sometimes the church brings the meal, sometimes they fund it and Werner prepares it. Meals range from mac ‘n’ cheese to Mexican food and run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. 

As a public outreach, the BSU is planning a free chili feed in the Student Center on Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The BSU also offers support to international students in the form of “friendship families” and holiday meals. According to Werner, Friendship Families pair international students with individuals or families who help provide the students with companionship, language and cultural education opportunities, transportation and food. 

“I think it’s a shame,” said Werner, “if a student comes anywhere in the United States and they never leave their dorm room or apartment for 2-4 years and don’t see anything that this country has to offer. And I’ve met students that has happened to.” 

Besides its outreach ministries, the BSU also provides fellowship opportunities for Christian students or anyone interested in learning more about that faith. According to its website, the BSU hosts a 6 p.m. Sunday evening dinner and Bible study at which is open to all on a “come as you are” basis. 

Savannah Nix, level two nursing student, said the BSU has helped her find a community of Christian peers. “[The BSU has given] me a place where I can come with questions I had about the Bible, or God, or if I was going through a rough time – sickness, loss – the people at the BSU were there for me to get me through tough times.” 

Members also take trips such as Baptist Hill camp retreats and Christian leadership conferences. In January, according to Werner, the BSU took eight students to New Orleans for an apologetics conference and is currently planning a mission trip to a local campground over this year’s spring break.