Meet the 2022-2023 BCM President

Gordon State College senior Maddie Hendrix is the 2022-2023 State Baptist Collegiate Ministries president. She shares her heart for BCM and expresses her desire to see Christ glorified. She also reviews how churches can engage with BCM.

Question: What was your decision to follow Christ like? 

I grew up in a Christian home where my parents lived out their walks with the Lord daily. We went to church weekly, and we enjoyed being there. It was a constant in my life. 

When I was 7 years old, I was lying in my bed one night thinking about how if I died right at that moment, I would not go where I wanted to spend eternity. I went to my parents’ room, and they walked me through what I needed to do to ensure my eternity in heaven. They made sure that it was a commitment that I wanted and not just what they wanted for me. I made the best decision of my life, to follow Jesus no matter what. 

Q: What is your testimony?

As I grew older, I continued to grow closer to the Lord, but a big part of my story happened when I was 16. One night, the home that I grew up in burned completely to the ground. My family all made it out, but we had to watch everything that we knew go up in flames that night. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever walked through. I remember standing in the front yard watching the house burn and my dad gathering us all together and praying. We knew that without the Lord, we never could have gotten through that tragic time in our lives. I learned to fully depend on the Lord. When there is nothing left, He is still going to be there for me. 

Two weeks after our house burned down, I was playing soccer and I tore my ACL. Soccer was the only constant thing still in my life after the house was gone, but the Lord knew that I needed to lose that as well if I was going to learn to trust and depend on Him and Him alone. Looking back, I am grateful for all that the Lord taught my family and I during those times. He brought us closer together as a family and closer to Him. 

Since then, the Lord has given me opportunities to share my story across the country through mission trips and other conversations. I am just trying to live my life for Him as best as I can because I know that I would be nothing without Him. 

Q: As you look back, what role has BCM played in your continuing discipleship development?

BCM has been a huge part of my life since my freshman year. The Bible studies that we have had have urged me to continue to be in the Word even when it is hard. I have been encouraged when there are difficult times in my life to “count it all joy” as it says in James 1. 

I have also had the wonderful opportunity to pour into other people’s lives and walk with them as they go through this college journey as well. Discipleship through the BCM has been one of the greatest blessings through my college career. 

Q: What leadership roles have you had in BCM?

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of our Serve Team since August of 2020. This is our leadership team that plans events for the BCM and discusses how we can be engaging people with the gospel on campus. 

In January of 2021, I became the president for Gordon State’s BCM. The Lord has taught me so many things while I have been in this position, and I am grateful for the wonderful people that I get the chance to work with all the time. 

Q: As you look forward, what do you think God is leading you to do/be in His Kingdom?

I feel a call towards children’s ministry. When I was in Lake Tahoe, California, on mission in summer of 2021, the Lord really pulled on my heart and opened my eyes to so many factors that He placed before me. I am excited to see how the Lord is going to use me to further His Kingdom. I am also passionate about spreading the gospel with college students as so many walk away from their faith during the college years. It breaks my heart. I just want to have my “yes” on the table and let the Lord use me as He will.

Q: What one or two things has the Lord taught you during the past month or so? 

In the past month, the Lord has been stirring my heart for me to understand how important it is to accept one another and help one another. In Romans 15:7, it says, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” If Jesus, who was sinless, was willing to bring us, who are by no means sinless, into His family, then we should be willing to accept one another! 

The Lord has been opening my eyes to not be so quick to judge, and to show mercy and grace to others because I have been shown so much mercy and grace. I am so thankful for the mercy and grace the Lord has shown me!

Q: How would you encourage churches to connect with BCMs in their communities?

I would encourage churches to reach out to their local BCMs and see if there is any way that they could be involved. We love to have local churches become involved with our BCM. One thing that we have started in the past year is having local churches come in and lead a worship night, where they are able to connect with students and lead us in worship and a message. 

It is honestly one of my favorite things that we have done. Overall, just don’t be afraid to reach out. We love to make those connections with people from local churches!

Q: What do you hope to see happen this upcoming year with the BCMs in Georgia?

BCM is such an important ministry on college campuses as it is a crucial time in college students’ lives. My hope and vision is that BCM would become a way for local churches to pour into young adults and encourage them as they walk through this stage of life. I also hope that BCM can be a way that college students can find friendships that are uplifting them and pushing them closer to the Lord.

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Published July 1, 2022