Maryland students return to Panama City for another fruitful week of ministry

By Madison Wells-James

“There’s no such thing as a ministry that costs you nothing.” – Paul Worcester

PANAMA CITY, FL — To many people, it’s nonsensical to sardine yourself into a caravan of slightly shifty church vans for an 18-hour drive. It’s crazy to give up spring break to go on a mission trip instead of taking a family vacation to Disney World. And it absolutely makes no sense to deprive yourself of precious sleep to tell drunk kids about a guy named Jesus at 1 am. Unless…unless it does.

In 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, Paul writes to the church, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” However, Christ did rise, he did free us from bondage to sin and he did pave the path for salvation by grace through faith. If Christians believe these truths, then preaching the gospel to hundreds of inebriated students at Panama City Beach makes perfect sense.

“You don’t understand the difference between walking with Him until you have,” said University of Maryland (UMD) student and first-time beach reacher Emma Shafer. “I think it’s just so great what we’re doing and trying to explain the difference between actually reading your Bible and actually walking with Him from just saying you’re a Christian and going to church.”

For the past three decades, BCM college students have participated in Beach Reach. Through strategic street evangelism and free shuttle rides, beach reachers engage in meaningful conversations to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with non-believing spring breakers.

The trip is an opportunity for students to remember their overarching purpose as born-again Christians. “Before He left, He told his disciples to go forth, making disciples of all nations to all the lands,” said UMD student and first-time beach reacher Friederich Alvarez. “Are we following those commands, or am I just living kind of in my own comfort zone?”

This year, Maryland’s team of seasoned returners and new faces braved the PCB strip for week three. The team comprised over forty people across eight campuses, including the University of Maryland, Towson University, Morgan State, Bowie State, Frostburg State University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Montgomery Community College. This was the largest Maryland group to attend Beach Reach in recent years, and the excitement was palpable.

God also provided a surplus of laborers from nationwide BCMs attending week three, surpassing expectations. In this case, “too many people” was a good problem. The surplus required coordinators to set up an overflow sanctuary room for evening worship.

Selina Carrasquillo and Morgan Lewis, both seasoned beach reachers, hosted week three service with effortless confidence and charisma. “It was such a special experience,” said Lewis. “There’s something powerful about worshiping together and being able to help create that atmosphere. It was really meaningful to me.”

Every night, beach reachers gathered for harmonious worship followed by sermons from various speakers, including North American Mission Board National Collegiate Director Paul Worchester. Students were reminded of several invaluable biblical truths: overcoming fear in the Lord’s presence, praising the awesome characteristics of God, truly beholding Jesus as Lord and expressing Christ-like compassion for the lost.

“This week was saturated in prayer and a focus that Jesus saves. We are simply faithfully pushing buttons until that happens,” said Marty Jellison, an associate Pastor at Mountain City Church, Frostburg. “I loved that Christ was so prominently lifted up, and that man, tactics, clever arguments, and ‘saying the right thing’ was not the focus.”

By the end of the week, every phone call, gospel conversation, shuttle ride, and intercessory prayer had led to 110 salvations. What a privilege it is to be used by God to further his kingdom. We take heart in knowing that one day, Jesus will come back, putting us all out of jobs. Until then, let’s keep sharing the gospel and reaching the beaches.

“Following Jesus won’t cost you much, it will just cost your entire life.” said Worcester. “

Madison Wells-James is a production assistant for Fox News and a Freelance Writer.

Feature photo by Madison Wells-James, “This was the largest Maryland group to attend Beach Reach in recent years, and the excitement was palpable.”