As a way to expand the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), the BCM has purchased what was originally the Phi Sigma Kappa (Phi Sig) fraternity building.
After being placed on probation and being unable to recruit any new members, the fraternity decided to sell the property in August to the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“The timetable is dependent on the success of raising funds for the work to be done,” Morgan Owen, UTM BCM campus minister, said.
The two main reasons the BCM purchased the Phi Sig house are proximity and growth. The house lies directly perpendicular to the BCM building and would allow for more student parking spots. The BCM also plans to create a men’s discipleship community project which will be housed in the new building.
“With such an increase of attendance at BCM events, students have struggled to find adequate parking near the ministry center,” Owen explained. “Unfortunately, the BCM has only seven parking spots (at) the back of the building.”
With the acquisition of the new BCM building, the land will allow for 45 more parking spots, almost seven times what the current facility hosts, according to Owen.
Christian Carr, the men’s intern at the BCM and 2019 Sociology graduate of UTM, acknowledged that the growth in student activity and hope of expansion were hindered by the landlocked building.
“With how the BCM has grown the past couple of years, we needed the property,” Carr said. “The new property will now give the BCM the ability to move towards becoming a more self-sustaining ministry.”
While the extending parking will benefit all students who participate in BCM events, the physical building itself will be used as living quarters for male UTM students who participate in BCM discipleship and training.
“The plan for the new building is focused on creating a men’s discipleship community,” Owen said. “The specifics are currently being developed, but in the end, we are looking at using the fraternity house for men to live in and be discipled by the BCM men’s campus missionary. Our hope is to also mobilize those living in the men’s community to serve in local churches, especially churches in need of encouragement out in the Martin area and beyond.”
The renovations to the house are expected to take up to two years, according to Owen.
“While we had interest in the parking lot, we had to really pray and focus on God’s will on the potential use of the house. Through discussions with other BCM Campus Ministers in Tennessee, I and our UTM BCM Board began to see the potential for the men’s discipleship community concept.”
The income made by students living at the new house will provide funds for future BCM ministry programs.
“All in all, the BCMs across Tennessee have benefited greatly from the generosity of Tennessee Baptists and their investment in Kingdom work on our college campus,” Owen said.
For more information and updates on the renovations of the Phi Sig house, contact Owen at utmbcm@gmail.com.
