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How I came to the BSU and why I stayed
My TU peeps…I’m going to see the Godfather, Part I this weekend. If you’d like to see it with me, watch it with me in my suite, probably Saturday night. In my junior colloquium class, I learned about ancient Roman patron-client relationships. The analogy that the endowed chair Dr. Rahe wanted to use was from the Godfather. He asked the class who had seen the movie, and most people raised their hands. I was among the few who did not, and I think that surprised him a little bit. At least, I was the first person who got asked why I hadn’t seen the movie. Then he waved his hands like Obi Wan Kenobi. For some reason, I could only say I would see it this weekend.
Today, I served drinks at the FOCUS lunch in the Baptist Student Union building. It was awesome meeting so many new people. Unfortunately, by now I have forgotten most of their names, due to the quirky fact that I can remember any world capital but it takes a while (a long while) for a name and face to stick. We’ve got a huge leadership team this year, and I’m privileged to be on international ministry for the second year in a row. Teaming up with me are the timid computer scientist Melanie and the kind linguist Ginger. It’s going to be a great year.
After working out the kinks of a theory, I’m a bit rejuvenated on writing gas (you’d be surprised how quickly you can use it up). From the well of introspection comes the story of how I came to the BSU and why I stayed.
I wasn’t really planning on getting involved with any of Tulsa’s campus ministries when I enrolled to Tulsa. It’s hard to shake off that mindset ingrained into me by my parents that I should just focus on my major and get a 4.0 GPA. But the good Lord takes care of you, and I happened to walk by the BSU table at the Activities Fair. They gave me a pen that said FOCUS on it…I couldn’t lose anything by getting a free lunch that Wednesday.
At the lunch, everyone made me feel welcome. The surprising thing is that the pleasant atmosphere didn’t feel forced at all. The good food helped immensely in welcoming me. And…it’s hard to explain but there was this good feeling that I had when I was in there. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I knew I wanted to come back. They talked about hosting a freshmen Bible study (called BASIC back then) on Monday nights.
I attended that first BASIC with a fellow Fort Smithian, the car obsessed Stevo. In high school, we had been lab partners in Bio AP (where I got to learn much about BMW Z3s). The BSU intern, the Brian McFarland (one of the few people who deserves the in front of his name), and a loudmouth girl named Allison Brown led the Bible study. Slowly and surely I made many friends, and I learned a lot about myself in the process.
The turning point was the freshmen led Celebration, the student worship we have at the BSU on Sunday nights. Normally, the worship team leads, but they let the freshmen take charge of one. We found out it takes a lot of planning for even just one of these events. You have to plan the speakers, the music, and the drama. The three freshmen speakers were the type A personality Stevo (one of two people on campus who puts a cover on his Z3), Marcel “Da Noooooiiiiiise” Ficklin, and yours truly. I was my usual self…and to my surprise people laughed and followed along with what I had to say. Whoa, I could be myself and have faith. You also have to understand that people were also surprised that a rather quiet person like me could possess fairly good speaking abilities.
Later, I decided to join the leadership team. I chose to work on international ministry because of my random knowledge of world capitals. Hmmm, to tell you the truth, even after writing all this I can’t really describe that almost ineffable feeling that I have when I am in the BSU.
Today, I served drinks at the FOCUS lunch in the Baptist Student Union building. It was awesome meeting so many new people. Unfortunately, by now I have forgotten most of their names, due to the quirky fact that I can remember any world capital but it takes a while (a long while) for a name and face to stick. We’ve got a huge leadership team this year, and I’m privileged to be on international ministry for the second year in a row. Teaming up with me are the timid computer scientist Melanie and the kind linguist Ginger. It’s going to be a great year.
After working out the kinks of a theory, I’m a bit rejuvenated on writing gas (you’d be surprised how quickly you can use it up). From the well of introspection comes the story of how I came to the BSU and why I stayed.
I wasn’t really planning on getting involved with any of Tulsa’s campus ministries when I enrolled to Tulsa. It’s hard to shake off that mindset ingrained into me by my parents that I should just focus on my major and get a 4.0 GPA. But the good Lord takes care of you, and I happened to walk by the BSU table at the Activities Fair. They gave me a pen that said FOCUS on it…I couldn’t lose anything by getting a free lunch that Wednesday.
At the lunch, everyone made me feel welcome. The surprising thing is that the pleasant atmosphere didn’t feel forced at all. The good food helped immensely in welcoming me. And…it’s hard to explain but there was this good feeling that I had when I was in there. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I knew I wanted to come back. They talked about hosting a freshmen Bible study (called BASIC back then) on Monday nights.
I attended that first BASIC with a fellow Fort Smithian, the car obsessed Stevo. In high school, we had been lab partners in Bio AP (where I got to learn much about BMW Z3s). The BSU intern, the Brian McFarland (one of the few people who deserves the in front of his name), and a loudmouth girl named Allison Brown led the Bible study. Slowly and surely I made many friends, and I learned a lot about myself in the process.
The turning point was the freshmen led Celebration, the student worship we have at the BSU on Sunday nights. Normally, the worship team leads, but they let the freshmen take charge of one. We found out it takes a lot of planning for even just one of these events. You have to plan the speakers, the music, and the drama. The three freshmen speakers were the type A personality Stevo (one of two people on campus who puts a cover on his Z3), Marcel “Da Noooooiiiiiise” Ficklin, and yours truly. I was my usual self…and to my surprise people laughed and followed along with what I had to say. Whoa, I could be myself and have faith. You also have to understand that people were also surprised that a rather quiet person like me could possess fairly good speaking abilities.
Later, I decided to join the leadership team. I chose to work on international ministry because of my random knowledge of world capitals. Hmmm, to tell you the truth, even after writing all this I can’t really describe that almost ineffable feeling that I have when I am in the BSU.