“What do you want from Jesus?  Why are you following Him?”

The question posed by speaker Clayton King hung over the room of nearly 700 college students at the annual retreat Converge Jan. 27 - 29 in Myrtle Beach where students from state Baptist Collegiate Ministries and local churches meet together to worship and delve deeper into the Word.

Throughout the weekend, students were encouraged to become true Christ-followers.  Using the example of the John the Baptist, King challenged attendees to take the proper perspective on ministry.

“We loved to be noticed, [but] we are not the center of the universe,” he said.

King pointed to the example of John as he was presented with the ability to take all the power, yet gave it all away to Christ.

“A true Christ follower never seeks for themselves.”

Students also participated in breakout sessions including talks on authentic worship, praying Jesus style and radical faith, among others.

Utilizing a free Saturday afternoon, some groups choose to participate in ministries around Myrtle Beach including prayer-walking and food pantries. 

The students also raised $1,800 for the Emery Smith fund which supports a summer mission team each year and this year will send one team of college students to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania .  The crowd heard from Pennsylvanian students who conveyed the deep need in their city.  

Over the course of the weekend, twenty-one people accepted Christ and over fifty surrendered to full-time ministry.

King offered definition to their new commitments.

“Following Christ means whatever He demands of me, I will do.”