BCM Brings Students Together Through Worship and Service

Photo by Luke Dawson, Fort Smith BCM

By Joe Blaze Bush

Baptist Collegiate Ministries at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith gives students opportunities to worship, share meals,

and put their faith into practice through mission trips and campus events.

The faith-based student organization hosts a weekly worship night with services on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with supper at 7 p.m. between the two. The two service times help accommodate a larger crowd.

For junior student leader Joshua Barrara, the organization’s impact on campus inspired him to get involved.

“What inspired me was the impact they make on the campus. As a Christian, it is so uplifting and encouraging seeing other fellow Christians who have a heart for evangelism,” Barrara said.

Luke Dawson has led the Fort Smith BCM since August 2024. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 2018 and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. After spending three years teaching and coaching football, Dawson and his wife, Carrie Beth, transitioned into full-time student ministry in 2021.

Dawson is passionate about teaching and helping students learn to share their faith. Outside of ministry, he enjoys golf, photography, and reading and is a New York Yankees fan. He and Carrie Beth have two young daughters, Lucy and Ellie.

Along with its weekly gatherings, BCM participates in mission trips and hosts other events throughout the year. Those activities reflect its stated mission: “The Fort Smith BCM exists to engage the campus with the gospel and equip students to serve in the local church.”