Press Release – Three student leaders from Howard Payne University’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) recently attended the annual Texas BSM Winter Summit at Baylor University in Waco. Student leaders from university BSMs across Texas came together as the BSM State Lead Team for the summit.

Students who exhibit leadership qualities within their BSM are chosen from each university. Seniors Karli Conrad of Katy, Joseph Flanigan of Round Rock and Jordan Pitman of Bangs were the leaders chosen to attend the summit for HPU

“Texas BSM Winter Summit was challenging and powerful,” said Flanigan. “I came back with new ideas and renewed motivation to be missional on the HPU campus.”
Keith Platte, HPU’s BSM director, said the students got the opportunity to hear from speaker Caleb Crider, instructional design leader for the International Mission Board and co-author of “Tradecraft: For the Church on Mission.” Crider challenged the students to be leaders and disciple-makers on their home campuses. Conrad shared what she took away from Crider’s teaching.

“The Gospel must be shared through the unreached spaces just as much as the reached ones,” said Conrad. “There is beauty in schools coming together to share similarities and differences in how they approach this concept. I feel blessed to have attended.”

The students who attended received training on how to engage their campuses and culture. Participants also planned Texas BSM’s upcoming prayer event, “Abide,” a retreat for all Texas BSM students scheduled for February 2-3 at Highland Lakes Camp near Spicewood.

Also attending the Summit were HPU alumni Dylan Hughes ’17, BSM assistant at Texas A&M University-Commerce; Adam Jones ’17, BSM assistant at Rice University in Houston; and Hannah Williamson ’17, BSM assistant at HPU. All three alumni served as HPU’s BSM student leaders while students at HPU.

“I had an impactful and refreshing experience that has prepared me for the upcoming spring semester,” said Williamson.

Pitman commented that she brought home a lot from the Summit as well.

“This year’s Summit showed me the importance of discipleship during college,” Pitman said. “Our BSM at HPU seeks to help students know Christ and make Him known, and I pray that we continue that mission as we grow in our discipleship abilities. We don’t want the BSM to be known only for the events hosted but for the Christ-like attitude its leaders and members display.”

For more information about HPU’s Baptist Student Ministry, contact Platte at kplatte@hputx.edu or 325-649-8319.
Applications are being accepted for the fall 2018 semester at Howard Payne University. HPU offers a variety of financial aid options including the Heart of Texas Scholarship, which awards $60,000 to students from Brown County and surrounding counties. For more information about HPU, contact HPU’s Office of Admission at 325-649-8020 or by e-mail at enroll@hputx.edu.

Pictured Above: Giving the official HPU Yellow Jacket “Sting ’Em” sign are (left to right): senior Joseph Flanigan, student leader; Adam Jones ’17, HPU alumnus and BSM assistant at Rice University in Houston; senior Karli Conrad, student leader; Hannah Williamson ’17, alumna and BSM assistant at HPU; Dylan Hughes ’17, HPU alumnus and BSM assistant at Texas A&M University-Commerce; and senior Jordan Pitman, student leader.