By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message Staff Writer
BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – For the past 33 years, Steve Masters has discipled thousands of students on the Louisiana State University campus, led multiple Baptist Collegiate Ministry disaster relief trips and contributed to collegiate ministry on the national level as a consultant as well as a contributor on collegiate ministry committees.
Masters, who is set to retire May 31 from his role as LSU’s BCM director, said he is grateful for the opportunity to build relationships with so many students and see them become faithful servants in their secular and ministry roles.
Since graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982, Masters has pursued God’s call to minister to college students. Before coming to LSU, he served as a BCM intern with University of Arkansas, Little Rock, BCM director with Arkansas Tech University, and BCM director with Oklahoma State University.
“I thought I would be at Oklahoma State forever, but my name was given to (former Louisiana Baptist State BCM Director) John Moore by Lynn Hawkins, former BCM director at Louisiana Tech,” he said. “I remember getting a phone call and being asked to consider going to LSU. I had to get out a map because I’d never even been to Baton Rouge.
“We came here 33 years ago, and it’s been a real joy to work here,” he continued. “I’ve had tremendous support from the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, the William Wallace Baptist Association, churches in our area, along with the many alumni and parents who have just given incredible financial support, prayer support and other support to our BCM ministry. They also have taken care of my family for which I am grateful.”
During his time at LSU, Masters has witnessed more than 500 students come to know Christ, taken nearly 3,000 students on more than 30 mission trips to Mexico, reached hundreds of international students through various ministry efforts by the BCM, and sent BCM-led disaster relief teams to help families in crises after natural disasters.
Moreover, he recently helped create and develop strategic training websites for youth and college students who have been called to ministry, www.calledtoministry.org and studentmissionary.com. The student missionary evangelism strategy launched in August 2023 is a guided, school-year-long training program for students to learn how to be intentional about being an evangelist on campus.
Masters said he hopes many churches will partner with students and help foster a foundation of discipleship that will carry on beyond high school.
“I have a real passion and heart concern for youth ministry because I believe 90 percent of the high school graduating seniors in our Southern Baptist Convention have checked out of their faith involvement by the time they graduate from high school,” he said. “That’s an important group that we’re trying to reach out to because if we don’t reach them during their college years, there’s a chance we might never bring them back. As a result of that, I developed this ministry to help cut down on that statistic while helping students who feel God’s call to ministry.”
WORDS OF APPRECIATION
Louisiana BCM State Director Mark Robinson described Masters as a key generational leader on the national collegiate ministry landscape for the last three decades.
“His energy and enthusiasm have been unmatched,” Robinson said. “I could mention larger accomplishments, but the ones that stand out to me are phone calls that go like this: ‘I was teaching five students today how to play the short game in golf, and I asked them about their relationship with Jesus. After explaining the Gospel to them, two guys prayed and committed their lives to Christ, and the others want to come back and talk about it again.’
“That conversation has been repeated many times with the names and numbers of participants changing for the last 20 years,” he continued. “Steve has been a champion for sharing the good news of Jesus with college students.”
Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn called Masters a “Louisiana Baptist Convention treasure.”
“Only eternity will reveal the true impact of his ministry, but some impact is obvious now,” he said. “First, our Louisiana Baptist churches are filled with LSU BSU/BCM alumni.
“Many students abandon the church during their college years. But through Steve’s influence, many who attended LSU grew in their faith and in their love for the local church,” Horn said.
“Second, scores of students were called to ministry during their times at LSU,” he said. “Many participated in their first mission trip at Steve’s invitation and maybe even insistence.
“Third, Steve’s ministry was marked by a tireless work ethic,” Horn continued. “His system of connecting graduating high school students to the BCM is used across the nation. His outreach to international students is a model. For example, when COVID shut down cafeteria service at LSU, Steve rolled up his sleeves, went to work, and discovered ways to get groceries to these students. In meeting their physical need, he opened doors to share with them about their spiritual need for a relationship to Jesus.
“Steve Masters is a perfect example of the power of the Cooperative Program of Louisiana Baptists and Southern Baptists,” he continued. “Louisiana Baptists provide the opportunity for Steve to minister. Students hear the Gospel and/or discipled. These students go on mission. Some are called to go to the nations. Others fill our churches. The cycle repeats itself over and over again.
“For all who know Steve, we know that retirement is really redeployment. We will continue to rely on Steve’s ideas, relationships, and experiences to reach that next generation of college students.” Tommy Middleton, associational mission strategist with the BAGBR, has enjoyed a close friendship with Masters and his family. Middleton’s three children, now grown, all were involved with the LSU BCM during Masters’ time there.
“Steve Masters has been an incredible servant of the Lord in his capacity as the BCM director for LSU,” Middleton said. “His passion for missions and evangelism has fueled one of the most effective college ministries in the United States. Steve has a great heart for international students and taken personal interest in them. He brought them into his home, taught many of them to the play golf, and has taken them on hunting and fishing trips.
“I don’t know how many conversations I’ve work to tell Bible stories) have turned to Christ, and such evangelistic success only costs $10 per copy.
“Getting the Word of God into the hands of people is so important,” Middleton added.
