BCM students travel to Malawi, Africa for mission

Twenty ULM students from the Baptist Collegiate Ministry on campus recently traveled to Malawi in southeastern Africa to promote their faith, funded by donations from local Christian churches.

Malawi is a landlocked country, approximately the size of Pennsylvania. The population was estimated at 12.8 million in 2005. Malawi’s dominant religion is Islam, but in the capital of Lilongwe, Christianity is reportedly on the rise.

The BCM members traveled to different villages in the capital, spreading their message. While visiting the villages of Chiweza and Ndodani, the members helped to establish Baptist churches by making bricks out of mud and water.

Senior general studies major Vincent Smith described his experience as “a hard dose of reality. Being the only African-American student to go on the mission, I was overwhelmed by the similarities of African culture versus the African-American culture in our country.” Smith also preached at an installation service at the new churches.

ULM students Kendrick Banks, Tyler Boyd and Jeremy Babb taught various Sunday school lessons.