Had it not been for a Baptist Student Union in Louisiana, Bob
Lees life might have been very much different.
Had it not been for a Baptist Student Union in Louisiana, Bob
Lees life might have been very much different.
It is because of the work of such a group that the Louisiana
native is a Baptist today. After surrendering to the ministry in a Methodist
church, Lee enrolled at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Disenfranchised
with his denomination, he became a Baptist through involvement in the campus
Baptist Student Union group. From there, he transferred to Louisiana College
in Pineville, where he met his future wife, Nancy, the first day on campus.
However, college was not the end of Lees involvement
with Baptist Student Union. Indeed, this year, Lee is celebrating his 30th year
as Baptist Student Union director for Oklahoma Baptists. Lee came to the Baptist
General Convention of Oklahoma just three years after it became a separate department.
Lee was about to graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary when he received a call to serve as associate pastor at an Oklahoma
Baptist church. Lee spent two years at the church before assuming the pastorate
of another Oklahoma Baptist congregation.
While serving as pastor, the job of Baptist Student Union director
at Oklahoma State University opened. Lee was recommended for the position. He
turned it down twice before then-Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Executive-treasurer
T.B. Lackey met Lee at a meeting and told him: “We really need you at OSU.
Have you prayed about it?”
Lee admitted he really had not put much effort into that prayer
– and Lackey said he would covenant with Lee to pray about the college
position.
Shortly thereafter, Lee agreed to become Baptist Student Union
director at Oklahoma State University.
Lee said he learned about his new job by visiting with other
student union directors. At the time, directors were paid by churches and associations
– and many directors held other part-time jobs to support their families.
When Lee became state Baptist Student Union director three
years later, there were eight full-time directors, none of whom was paid by
the state convention.
It would take another few years for that to happen, thanks
to Lees initiative and work.
In addition, Lee worked with the Southern North American Mission
Board to bring Langston University into the Baptist Student Union fold. In time,
it became a model for work among black schools.
Lee also has accomplishments to show.
Today, there are 45 full-time Baptist Student Union directors
in the state. Also, in 1971, there were 20 Baptist Student Union buildings,
and some of them were converted houses. Today, there are 31 buildings on campuses
across the state, and some of them have doubled their capacity. There was work
on 23 campuses in 1971; today, work exists on 40 campuses.
“All but colleges supported by other denominations have
BSU work today,” Lee says.
Also, in 1971, summer missions work involved sending about
15 students to sites around the country. Just 30 years later, some 170 students
from Oklahoma colleges and universities are serving on six continents.
“We started talking with directors about what we wanted
to do in the area of missions,” Lee recounts. “We wanted a broader
vision which would touch the U.S. and do more across the oceans. We challenged
ourselves to get off high center and set some goals.”
In addition to missions progress, Oklahoma is the only state
that has a definitive program to help Baptist Student Union work in new convention
areas, Lee says.
“Weve been doing that for about 25 years,”
he says. “We send about 40 percent of what the students raise for missions
to BSU work in new convention areas.”
Through the years, Lee says he has seen a definitive move among
students to share the gospel, and campuses have invested in training in personal
evangelism.
Through it all, Baptist Student Union work in Oklahoma has
been a team effort, Lee emphasizes.
“If weve accomplished anything in BSU work in the
state, its because churches and associations have been there to enable
and empower us,” he says. “And we have committees which function and
make decisions. The buck stops here, but I rely heavily on others in all areas.”
Lee says his plans are to retire at the end of the school year
in 2004, and he would advise his successor to listen to what students and directors
are saying.
“You can stay in your office and think youre doing
something, but you are missing whats going on out there,” Lee relates.
“Thats why I visit every campus at least once a year.”
Even in retirement, Lee says he will probably continue in Baptist
Student Union work. “I have already been asked to help with work in pioneer
areas, and I might consider working short-term assignments in England or Canada,”
he says.
Meanwhile, even after 30 years, his work has never gotten old,
Lee emphasizes.
“Every year we have a new crop of students, new people
to work with,” he notes.
“There is a challenge every year. I love what Im doing and could
do this until Im 100.” (BP)