Southern Baptist Leaders Emphasize Relationships and Scripture in Preparing Students for Baptism

Mike Camire shared a story about a seventh-grade girl who came to his wife, Julie, after a worship service during a mission camp. The girl had developed a relationship with Julie through her small group, and when the opportunity arose, Julie shared the gospel with her and led her to the Lord. This experience highlights the importance of authentic relationships in student ministry, as emphasized by Southern Baptist leaders ahead of Student Baptism Sunday, Oct. 25.

Camire, pastor of NextGen Ministries at Parkway Baptist Church in Moseley, Va., said the student had already been asking questions about what it meant to be a Christian. The foundation was laid so that when the Holy Spirit moved, she had a trusted person to engage in that conversation. Southern Baptist churches will highlight the importance of reaching the next generation with the gospel on Student Baptism Sunday.

Shane Pruitt, national next gen director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), said one of the best things we can do in reaching the next generation is to meet students where they are and offer them real relationships as real people. As a generation that’s grown up surrounded by technology, with artificial intelligence on the rise, students are hungry for truth and in need of interaction that takes place away from the screen.

Camire, who also serves as the student ministry coordinator for the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia, led the seventh-grade student to follow through in believer’s baptism. She ended up being baptized at one of their 8 o’clock services because students who are really nervous, they ask them to consider getting baptized at their 8 o’clock service. There’s not as many people there.

So, a few weeks ago, that’s what she did, and in the audience that morning was a young adult who, upon seeing her testimony, came forward to be baptized in the ne

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