Over Christmas break, the Baptist Student Union took a group of students to visit the Ark in Kentucky, a Christian theme park featuring a 510-foot-long, 85-foot-wide, and 51-foot-high life-size replica of Noah’s Ark from the Bible.
On this trip, students got a chance to build fellowship with each other while learning more about the creation of the universe.
The trip was five days long, two of which were travel days to and from Northern Kentucky. Brother Frank Porter, the director of the BSU, would plan different activities each day, such as visiting the planetarium and the zoo or listening to various speakers the park was hosting.
One student who attended the trip was Daniel Baldwin, a music education student enrolled in his third year at Jones. This was Baldwin’s third time going on this trip with the BSU and visiting the Ark and Creation museum, and he still enjoyed it just as much as he did the first time he attended. Baldwin finds that each student group will have its own unique personality and that new fellowship opportunities are available each year as the group gets to know each other better and dives deeper into scripture together.
“I feel like college is when you’re shaping your faith the most because you’re on your own for the first time,” said Baldwin. “I think it’s really crucial for people to take opportunities like this to learn more about the Lord.”
These trips allow students the opportunity to step outside of their normal school routine to focus on their time together while they learn about the Gospel.
Many students are very visual in their learning process. When reading the Old Testament, it can sometimes be hard to imagine what life was like or what people in those times were experiencing.
“Being able to physically see and tour a replica of this size makes the scripture really come to life,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin also points out that Porter is very intentional about everything that the students learn and guides them through, helping them to understand the true meaning behind what they are seeing and experiencing and how that ties back to scripture.
“He makes sure that we aren’t just going and reading different signs, and that we actually get something out of it, and I really appreciate that,” said Baldwin.
The BSU is open every weekday for students to visit, do homework and talk to Porter. Every Tuesday night, there is a short service where either Porter or a guest speaker will talk to students about the Bible and answer any questions they might have regarding their faith, religion and missions.
For more information on the BSU, visit https://www.facebook.com/jonescollegebsu
by Kate Atwood
