October 2, 2026
BARNESVILLE, Ga. — For college students seeking to serve on missions via Send Me Now, Discovery Day is the final step in their application and appointment process. This year, that step was virtual.
As snow and ice were predicted for that weekend, Beverly Skinner made the decision to have students participate via video rather than face travel conditions expected to be difficult, if not outright hazardous. Skinner, College Ministry Catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, said her team had to scramble to adjust.
Erin Wilkins, the Send Me Now consultant, said, “The collegiate staff quickly tried to become experts in large-format online meetings and virtual breakout rooms, complete with moveable hot-spots and everything in between!”
Around 30 collegiate ministry staff from across the state gathered at First Baptist Church in Barnesville, turning the church auditorium into what Wilkins described as a high-tech “command center,” complete with large screens, computers, and moveable hot spots.
Starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, students met in a large-group online setting for an overview of the day and Send Me Now guidelines from Wilkins. They then heard a devotional from Matt Nixon of the University of North Georgia, the state president of Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
From there, students were placed into virtual breakout rooms for small-group discussions led by two collegiate staff interviewers. Conversations centered on salvation stories, personal discipleship, evangelism experience, and how students sensed God leading them this summer. The afternoon was filled with one-on-one virtual interviews.
By Sunday afternoon, 130 students were appointed to serve in 33 locations around the world.
Abigail Hildreth, a student at Valdosta State, will be serving in Quebec, Canada. She said BCM has been “truly the highlight of college” since she became involved a year and a half ago and began serving in leadership.
This summer will be her second serving with Send Me Now. Last year, she participated in a short-term trip to the Czech Republic.
“It was the most amazing experience,” she said. “My time there was really what made me want to do long-term this summer.”
At first, she wasn’t sure why she felt compelled to apply again. “I just knew that I needed to,” she said. “God just kept putting it in front of me, and I never considered not doing it.”
This year, her assignment was selected for her. “I trust Send Me Now and the Holy Spirit in their team,” she said. “I know that they lean on the Lord in their decision-making, so I trust their assignments.”
While she appreciated the opportunity, she admitted the virtual format changed the experience.
“It kind of took the personal connection out of the event,” she said. “I actually made friends last year because the event was in person. Having it virtual lost the fellowship aspect of the event. That was kind of the best part, being around like-minded people with the same mission.”
Michael Harris, a senior aerospace engineering major at Georgia Tech from Gray, has been involved with BCM for 2½ years. “Before BCM, I didn't know that campus ministries and community existed until a faithful friend invited me to come check it out,” he said. “Ever since then, I've been in love with the mission of the ministry and the discipleship that happens daily within the life of my BCM.”
He previously served as a small group leader and now serves on the worship team.
This will be his second summer with Send Me Now. Last year, he served on a part-time trip to Portland, Oregon.
“The most memorable part of the trip to Oregon was getting to have gospel conversations with Portland State students through spiritual surveys with NCM,” Harris said. “I was able to meet international and local students from different backgrounds and tell them about the works of Christ.”
This summer, he will serve as a church leadership intern with the West Metro Baptist Association. “As a student discerning a call to ministry, I'm eager to learn more about the inner workings of the church and explore a potential calling to student ministry,” he said. “Above all, it's been incredible to see the Lord's faithfulness in opening doors to serve on mission through Send Me Now.”
Harris initially shared some of Hildreth’s disappointment about the event moving online.
“I felt that missing worship sessions, service projects, and face-to-face interviews might detract from both the selection process and the overall experience,” he said.
But the day exceeded his expectations. “I was impressed by how smoothly Discovery Day went,” he said. “Despite the challenges of meeting online, the team did an excellent job of remaining intentional throughout the interviews.”
Even virtually, he said the shared passion was evident.
“It was refreshing to be surrounded, even virtually, by students who were passionate about the Lord and excited to serve over the summer.”
Wilkins said, “It was quite the undertaking and most definitely a sight to behold. Beginning Saturday evening and ending Sunday afternoon, the staff spent many hours praying and deliberating as they appointed students to their summer positions.”
She added, “Many of the staff members who participated in Discovery Day missed the beautiful snow that had fallen at home in the North and Northeast and only experienced it through photos sent from family throughout the day, but we can all agree that it was well worth it to be a part of God's mission through college students in Georgia.”
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