A hip hop study is probably the last thing you expect to engage in at a Christian small group meeting, but that’s just one of the aspects that makes Black Campus Ministries (BCM) dynamic and captivating.

BCM is a small group under the Christian organization Intervarsity that connects CSUSM students from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Cougar Cube at The Quad.

In an average meeting, about 25 members will start gathering as worship music plays before they share highs and lows of the week, later engaging in Bible study and prayer.

Zana Taylor, a junior who has been one of the leaders of BCM for 2 years, says that BCM offers a community for black students to connect with others from their culture and feel comfortable, but the organization is open to people from all backgrounds.

“I find it really interesting that we can all open up and share very intimate things that are going on in our lives…and that’s what I love about [BCM]—we’re free to open up,” said Taylor.

Other leaders include twin sisters Dani and Darniesha Thornton, who are drawn to the group due to their ability to connect with peers on spiritual and cultural grounds.

“We all are brothers and sisters in Christ and when we are all praying for one another we are able to interact on a stronger level,” said Dani.

Her sister said she appreciates the group for allowing her to connect to her culture while simultaneously learning about God.

“The beauty of BCM is that we truly examine and dissect the word and correlate it to our college experiences. At BCM, all individuals are welcomed and it is a safe place to open up and grow spiritually with peers that culturally relate to you,” said Darniesha.

Devin Vaughn is another leader that was drawn to BCM because he found that he can learn more about God while rebuilding his relationship with him.

He says that the most interesting thing about the small group is “the idea of people coming together to better themselves and learning more about God. The discussions relate to how people feel and or felt before, which makes it easier for people to open up and be able to enjoy BCM more.”

Leader Antonette Herndon was approached by members of Intervarsity and joined to meet other Christians on campus.

“I then joined Black Campus Ministries because I wanted to meet other Black students, and the leader at the time was very welcoming. I love it so much that I became a leader and the study has grown tremendously,” said Herndon.

Taylor said that it’s great to see more people attending the meetings, but she’d really like to “see people’s lives changed… and actually being committed to Jesus.”

To learn more about BCM, visit www.facebook.com/csusmbcm.