Sojourner #032: Let The One Who Is Thirsty Come

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." (Matthew 25:35-46)

More than 3,000 bottles of water were delivered to the Etowah Baptist Association on April 6, 2025 in support of the Gadsden State Community College Baptist Campus Ministry (GSCC BCM). To put that number in perspective, that is over 50,700oz (400 gallons) of water that will be put to use by the GSCC BCM over the coming weeks and months as they seek to carry the Gospel to the nations, beginning in Gadsden, Alabama. 

The Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) Baptist Campus Ministry's (BCM) aim is to share the Gospel across the Gadsden State Community College's five campuses, serving the students and faculty via various missions efforts throughout the school year. BCM is a student-led group at GSCC that exists to engage students with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their field is diverse, with over 6,000 international students from 140 different countries having attended the college since 1968. During the Fall Semester 2023, nearly 5,000 students were enrolled at the college.

The work of the GSCC BCM is absolutely vital in taking the Gospel to the nations. As a part of their efforts, GSCC BCM provides dorm students with access to a "Food Shelf" inside the dorm. They request assistance from local churches, organizations, and individuals in keeping the shelf stocked throughout the semester, so that students will have access to supplies they need.

The water was gathered as a part of a collaborative partnership between Sojourner Magazine and Harvestfield Church in Rainbow City, Alabama, in an effort to promote local missions within the context of the local church - to stir up the people of God to good works (Heb. 10:24), in accordance with the Scriptures, for His glory and for the good of many.

Cases being loaded into trucks at Harvestfield Church

Dr. Craig Carlisle, the President of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and Associational Missions Strategist for the Etowah Baptist Association emphasized that, "God is moving on the Gadsden State campus. Ministries, like this, are a great help and encouragement to the students."

Donations were requested in the form of a case or multiple cases of bottled water, to ensure water security and ease of access for GSCC BCM and those they serve. All donations were delivered to a designated drop off point at Harvestfield Church (HFC), from which location they were transferred to the Etowah Baptist Association after the drive ended. The cases will be divided between the different GSCC campuses and utilized as needed by the GSCC BCM.

Bottled Water Donation Drive Event Flyer

Brian Haskins, an elder and missions coordinator at Harvestfield Church, thanked those at HFC who took part in the drive, saying, "Thank you to HFC for your generous contributions and sincere, faith-filled willingness to support a local ministry for the purpose of the Gospel going out from us. We will continue to look for more opportunities to be the light of Christ within our community. Thank you for following Christ to the nations, even right here at home."

Sojourner Magazine and Harvestfield Church are thankful to all of the members at HFC who participated in the bottled water drive, as well as the many other churches, organizations, and other individuals who donated water for the sake of the Gospel, and encourage everyone to remember that their giving, when conducted within the context of the local church and carried out in accordance with the Scriptures, is never in vain. God is glorified when His people gather together, under the banner of Zion, to be the church and serve people in their distress.

Volunteers unloading cases at the Etowah Baptist Association

Wherever you are, you have the opportunity to live out what God has worked in you - by faith, and by the working of the Holy Spirit in your life, as He applies the truth of the Scriptures to your heart, in such a way that you follow Christ, in repentance and faith, to the nations. 

Many times, we think that we must travel thousands of miles from home to serve Christ, when the reality is that there are countless opportunities to love and serve one another wherever you might find yourself. The nations, while they certainly are found abroad, are also found in the many places we call "home." 

Please join us in praying for GSCC BCM as they serve the nations at home, that His name might be great among the nations. If you would like to support their efforts, consider clicking the links at the bottom of this article, and share this article with any others you would like to see taking a more involved role in the greatest fight in the world, today. 

A Message From Tracie Griggs, IMB Trustee And GSCC BCM Director:

"We are so incredibly grateful to Sojourner Magazine for encouraging local participation in the collection of water bottles for the ministry of Gadsden State Community College Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM). While the majority of our college students are not even Baptist, we know that the college campus is one of the largest mission fields in our community, and we are so grateful for the prayer and giving support that enables us to support five campuses, multiple Bible studies, and many athletic teams, with whom we are sharing Christ daily. Thank you, Sojourner Magazine and supporters!"

A special thanks to Harlee Vincent, Sojourner Magazine's field photographer, for documenting the delivery, and the other volunteers who helped load and deliver the cases to the EBA.

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You can visit the Etowah Baptist Association (EBA) website here to learn about how they reach the local, state, and global church. Want to learn about how you can take the Gospel to the nations? Read about the International Mission Board (IMB) here. Plan a visit to Harvestfield Church or learn about HFC by visiting their website here.

Please share this article with your friends and family. Follow the Sojourner Magazine Facebook page, visit our website to read other articles, and sign up for the Newsletter to receive updates, information about the print edition, and more stories from the front lines of the greatest fight in the world.

Questions? Email sojournermagazine@gmail.com