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Students gather for food and fellowship at this semester's last Elevate

Casey Palmer

April 26, 2012

The quad was anything but quiet on Tuesday night when students met for the last Elevate of the semester.

“It’s bittersweet because I really love Elevate,” said Cary Carpenter, a member of Bluefield College’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry council. “But it’s also good because we don’t have to plan anymore and we can focus on our studies here at the end of the semester.”

	BC students sing along with the priase band

Carpenter and the other members of BCM were excited to work with the Student Union Board and the Student Government Association to make this event possible.

A cookout-style dinner was provided by S.U.B that included: hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies and drinks.

“Food always brings people out,” said Drew Hinton, member of the BCM council. “We were glad SGA could help us out by providing the funds that were needed to purchase the food.”

Students played Frisbee and threw football in the quad before Steve Branch, pastor at Destiny Outreach Ministries, shared a message of encouragement.

“I know you all are facing some stuff in the future and it’s heavy,” said Branch. “But it’s putting him first that will move you into his greatness.”

Branch said he was excited about the opportunity to speak to the students at BC.

“It was a privilege to be here with the students—the world changers,” said Branch.

He referred to David and Goliath, a Bible story that many of them remember from childhood. He encouraged them to fight the giants in their lives and not to sit back and do nothing.

“He was the first person I thought of when trying to think of someone to speak at our last Elevate,” said Amanda Heller, a member of the BCM council. “I attend Destiny and see how powerful his words are, and I thought it would be great to have him here.”

Carpenter agreed.

“I’ve been to his church before, but of course he didn’t really speak about college-related issues, so it was really cool to hear him speak directly to us,” said Carpenter.

When Branch concluded his message the students raced to the grill to get something to eat, and for some of them, this was their first Elevate.

“I thought it was cool how the student body came together, and people who normally don’t come were here,” said Kristen Slade, a member of the BCM council.

Elevate will start back in the Fall.

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