GATE CITY — Look up “emerging leader” in your Virginia Baptist Kingdom Advance Unabridged Dictionary and you will find pictures of Mark Estepp and Jessica Roloff. Both are students at the University of Virginia's College at Wise and are active in Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
Mark comes from Gate City, where he was an outstanding high school basketball player and by his own admission “very driven.” When he accepted Jesus as his savior only a few years ago, that drive and energy found an outlet. Mark became active in the youth ministry of First Baptist Church in Gate City, where he developed his people and communication skills. Now a junior, Mark entered UVa-Wise in the fall of 2005 with two goals: obtaining a college education and communicating his love of Jesus.
Mark Estepp
That first fall semester Mark would talk with anyone who would listen. Bible in hand, he would step out of his residence hall and talk to students. Those first encounters led to a small Bible study group that grew to more than 30 in attendance. In good weather they met out by the college lake. Mark got some help from his home church to put on the first “Rally for Christ,” which drew over 100 students. It wasn't long before Mark was asked to take over the Sunday night chapel service. For the past two years Mark has led chapel on Sunday and Thursday nights. Mark was also asked to speak at a fall revival service sponsored by all the collegiate ministries on campus.
Mark just keeps going and growing. In May 2006 Greg Alexander, collegiate/young adult ministry strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's emerging leaders team, suggested that I apply for a North American Mission Board semester missionary position for Mark. His application was immediately approved, and I joined other Virginia collegiate ministers at Ridgecrest for supervisory training. Mark's job description is focused on evangelism. In addition to leading the two chapel services each week, Mark works with the BCM leadership team to plan outreach events each semester. At this year's fall event at the college lake, the third annual Rally for Christ, over 40 students responded to the invitation “to really live for Christ.” Several students who had come forward shared their decisions and stories at the invitation of evangelist Mike Jenkins.
Jessica Roloff
Mark is a popular speaker at area churches and youth events. He was one of four student speakers at the Spring 2007 Virginia Baptist Collegiate Ministry Leadership Training Conference at Eagle Eyrie. Mark and I get together for breakfast each Monday to pray and plan. Mark also serves as the local BCM president this school year. He is one who leads by example. He is an encourager, too, enlisting other students to speak, pray, sing and play instruments for chapel. Student speakers are also often utilized at the weekly BCM “Construction Site” suppers. As he continues to pursue his call to ministry, Mark was ordained by First Baptist, Gate City, this past summer.
Jessica is a senior at UVa-Wise and a member of First Baptist Church in Bassett. Although she has been involved in BCM her whole career as a student, this past summer she approached me about getting more involved. Soon she was leading the summer BCM program, and this school year she is serving as collegiate ministry intern. Virginia Baptists provide a stipend for Jessica and others like her to assist our collegiate ministers around the Commonwealth.
Jessica is priceless in her contribution to helping BCM accomplish its goals in Southwest Virginia. I am on the road three days each week traveling to three area community colleges: Southwest Virginia Community College on Tuesdays; Virginia Highlands Community College on Wednesdays; and Mountain Empire Community College on Thursdays. It is good to have Jessica in place to meet student needs and keep things going at UVa-Wise while I am away. She is often behind the scenes supporting the ministry efforts of our BCM students, such as partnering with student government to provide Christmas gifts for needy children at the campus Head Start Center and organizing a very successful preholiday blood drive on campus.
Jessica is also involved in Virginia Baptist student leadership beyond the college campus. She represents the southwest area of our state on the Virginia BCM Council. She also helped facilitate at Youth EnCounter this past summer and was a part of the planning team for the BCM Fall Axis Conference, where she presided over the Friday night events and recruited her youth minster to lead a breakout session. Virginia Baptists have given this Martinsville woman a place to grow and to try her ministry wings.
Thank you, Virginia Baptists, for sending us students like Mark and Jessica. And thank you, Virginia Baptists, for providing opportunities for them to grow and to serve through Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
Jim Collie is Baptist collegiate minister in the Southwest and New Valley region.