Aletheia Church uses SMO Grant to Support Collegiate Ministry
If there’s one thing Gracie Brinsfield is passionate about, it’s telling people about Jesus and she’s not afraid to show it. Over the last year, Brinsfield has served as an integral staff member at UMD’s chapter of Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) mentoring students and gaining ministry experience.
She is also a member of Aletheia Church, College Park, which has partnered with UMD BCM to improve outreach to students and facilitate discipleship. This year, Aletheia received a grant from the BCM/D State Missions Offering (SMO) to help support Brinsfield as she prepares to serve one more semester with BCM.
Gracie Brinsfield, Adriana Alonzo, Madison Wells-James and Jessica Senasack. (Photo submitted)
For Brinsfield, doing ministry is about sharing the good news and building meaningful relationships. “When you start a new conversation, where is this person?” said Brinsfield. “The ideal is if this conversation turns into a relationship…I’m not just here to convert you but I definitely care about your well-being and just being friends,” she said in regard to gospel sharing with students on campus.
During her time in undergrad, Brinsfield served as a leader in BCM ministering to other students (including your favorite writer, me) while being discipled to live for Christ. Returning to BCM has allowed her to reflect on those formative years which gave her accountability and helped her as she put it “stop acting the fool” and start focusing on Jesus. Now, she is leading other students to do the same thing.
“It’s really fulfilling when people have moments when they experience the Holy Spirit or “a-ha” moments where God is moving for the first time,” said Brinsfield.
This fall, she will continue her work as an encouraging mentor, teacher and overall leader. Most days will be spent helping to plan bible studies, teaching at large group sessions, evangelizing on campus and discipling students. Brinsfield will also be strategizing with Pastor Rob Stevens and other members of Aletheia church in order to better reach students and develop deeper relationships amongst the community.
Efforts to build connections amongst students and the church have already begun blossoming through past events including campus prayer walks and Together for Jesus, an inter-denominational event where Christian students gather for a night of worship and fellowship. Last semester, Aletheia’s praise team led the group in worship while Stevens preached an edifying sermon on the urgency of sharing the gospel.
Right now, Aletheia is also attempting to grow their women’s ministry which Brinsfield will be involved in with the goal of discipling women of all age groups. “It’s just like being intentional about bringing more and different people when gospel sharing is happening or when prayer walking is happening,” Brinsfield explained.
College students happily volunteered at the 2023 Night to Shine at Cresthill Church. (Landon Arthur, Jessica Senasack, Adriana Alonzo, Gracie Brinsfield, and a NTS guest. Photo submitted)
After this semester, Brinsfield will use her agricultural and ministry skills to serve the Lord as an international missionary in Senegal. She has been considering this path since she graduated. However, BCM has been an essential stepping stone that helped her grow in spiritual maturity and in her heart for the nations.
“I just really wanted ministry experience in the U.S. because I kind of had this conviction. Why do you think you can share the gospel with people who don’t have anything in common with you if you don’t even share with people who have the same culture and language in common with you?” she said.
God has continued to guide her steps and prompt her to pray and share the good news with people she encounters. Let’s all be praying for my dear friend as she nears her closing chapter with BCM and begins a new one in Senegal. She will be greatly missed at home but will also be used by God as a greater blessing to those abroad.
Prayer List:
- Boldness to share the gospel on and off campus
- For more students to come to Jesus during the fall semester
- Focus and ability to be present and intentional
- Discernment for all decisions
- No feelings of doubt or hesitation would prevent Gracie from fulfilling God’s calling on her life
Madison Wells-James is a freelance journalist and photographer.
Feature photo shows Gracie Brinsfield teaching a “Connection” session outside the garden chapel at the UMD Memorial Chapel garden. Photo by Madison Wells-James
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