As the stage lights dim and the Baptist Collegiate Ministries worship team takes their place on stage, Newton Chapel fills with students preparing to worship the Lord at Baptist Collegiate Ministries at their weekly Thursday evening meeting.
During his freshman year at Mercer, Nolan Newberry '26 went to BCM for the first time after making a pact to visit all of the campus ministries with his roommate and hallmates in Legacy Hall. Now in his final year, Newberry has stayed active at BCM and serves as the Worship Coordinator every Thursday night.
Newberry said the worship team works to create an environment where “people can just take whatever's happening in their life, whatever's going on, whether it's good or bad, highs and lows, they can just drop everything at the foot of the chapel and just go in and just be in the presence of God.”
Throughout his time in college, Newberry said he has met some of his best friends because of BCM, and he sees BCM as one giant family.
“You know almost everybody who walks into that chapel. You know my name, you know my heart, and so you know you have a connection with them,” Newberry said.
He said the friendships and connections made in BCM will last a lifetime, and the lessons he has learned have changed his life.
“BCM has been that one constant and the one community and family I can just lean back on,” Newberry said. “I would not be the man I am today without BCM.”
Talia Tamayo '27 said she found her home at BCM during her freshman year. She has continued to participate in BCM and now serves as the Care Team Coordinator.
“Majority of my friends, if not all of them, are from BCM,” Tamayo said. Whether she is eating a meal, studying or finding something fun to do, Tamayo said she is always around her friends from BCM.
Because of BCM, Tamayo said she now has people to hold her accountable and encourage her to grow in her faith.
“It’s a great place to worship the Lord, to learn more about the Lord, and just to be in a community of believers,” she said.
She knows that whatever happens in her life, she will have her friends from BCM to be with her and help her.
“If you're truly looking for a community that's going to take you in and love you with everything they’ve got, it's going to be BCM,” Newberry said.
BCM is currently meeting in the Mercer Innovation Center on Thursdays at 8 p.m. while Newton Chapel is under construction.
