BCM student makes sorority her mission field

Andrea Shipp is a college student on mission for her campus. The pre-med sophomore from Hoover, Ala., felt God calling her to attend the College of Charleston after her first visit there.

Andrea Shipp, left, and Paige Orman.

She heard about Baptist Collegiate Ministries — a ministry provided by South Carolina Baptists to connect college students to Jesus — from a senior student involved in BCM. Shipp joined BCM right away, stating that the “depth of relationships there” was what she loved. Specifically, Shipp said her relationship with Paige Orman, the assistant director of women’s evangelism with BCM, was one that proved to be a source of encouragement for her.

“Paige really challenged me through asking questions and continually pointing me back to scripture and encouraging me to get more involved in my sorority by being a leader there,” Shipp said.

Shipp had a real burden for her sorority sisters to grow in the Lord, so she ran for the chaplain’s position and also started a Bible study of her own. Her Bible study is based on the book “12 Extraordinary Women,” by John MacArthur.

Andrea Shipp, third from right, with some of the BCM members.

Shipp says the main focus of the study is that “without the Lord, these women are just ordinary.” She tries to communicate to her Bible study girls that their purpose is not just to do a “bunch of good things,” but to be extraordinary women because of God’s power working through them.

She is an example of an extraordinary woman who allows God to work through her. In addition to her leadership in the sorority, Shipp was recently crowned Miss College of Charleston. She said that the experience has allowed her to talk to a lot of people who she might not have otherwise and to discover opportunities to share Christ with everyone around her.

Shipp said that the reason she is at College of Charleston is “to be a missionary to my campus.” She sees a potential for revival in the Greek Life in general, and she takes time to pray for incoming members.

Peter Hyatt, Baptist collegiate minister for Charleston area schools, says, “Andrea gets the Great Commission. She gets evangelism — that she is not in a sorority only for the social aspect. She is in a sorority to reach girls for Christ.”