Matt Holland is one of 15 staff members serving the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Oklahoma (OU BCM). He serves as campus missionary, training and investing in students.
“We want to challenge students to know, love and glorify God by declaring the Gospel, developing quality disciples and deploying trained disciple-makers,” Holland said.
The OU BCM desires to make lifelong disciples out of the students who come through its ministry—to have graduates who love God and His Word and live accordingly, to be good witnesses of Christ and know how to disciple people, to be involved in local churches helping make disciples who multiply and to follow God in every area of their lives, wherever God places them.
Students who participate in the programs of BCM are part of a storied history of Baptist student work. The OU BCM is the oldest in the state, founded in 1923. According to the International Mission Board, more Southern Baptist missionaries have come from OU than any other state college or university. OU BCM truly has a worldwide impact, acting on the fact that the college campus is the largest mission filed in the country.
In 2019, the OU BCM moved into a brand new building within walking distance of the majority of student dorms and proposed student housing. The new building provides easy access to more than 6,000 students and acts as a multi-use facility, with large meeting spaces, offices, areas for fellowship and a coffee shop. In this setting, students can participate in activities focused on prayer, Bible study, worship, training and fellowship. The 26,670 square foot facility also has a 500-seat auditorium and a kitchen.
Through the years, the OU BCM has touched the lives of thousands of students. Former OU football running back Joe Wylie said the Baptist campus ministry changed his life.
“From Bible studies to evangelism to relationship, the OU BCM had an enormous impact on my life and many of my friends, including OU football players,” Wylie said. “I don’t know where I would be in life without this ministry.”
Holland said his hope is that the ministry will continue to grow and reach more and more students with the Gospel.
“My prayer is that God would give us compassion for the multitudes and use us to raise up and send out laborers into His harvest,” Holland said.
Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, an amazing array of ministries are supported. This unified giving encourages fellowship with other believers all over the world. Collectively, Oklahoma Baptists are advancing the Gospel together.
Matt Holand is featured in the 2022 Missionary Prayer Guide for Oklahoma Baptists. To see more information, visit oklahomabaptists.org/cp
