Future leaders in ministry shine on Faith’s campus during MAACS Competition
March 26, 2018
The Faith campus was filled with future leaders in ministry last week with over four hundred visiting junior and senior high school students competing in the MAACS annual Bible, Academic and Fine Arts Competition. Faith was the hosting location for the third year in a row.
MAACS stands for Mid-American Association of Christian Schools, which is comprised mostly of private, Christian institutions from Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and multiple other states in the mid-America region.
The MAACS students had the opportunity to interact with many of Faith’s future leaders in ministry as well, as over one hundred students and staff from Faith volunteered to help with the event. On Thursday evening, a concert was held in the gymnasium featuring musical groups from Faith Baptist Bible College and MAACS contestants, alike.
Over the course of three days, students competed individually and as teams in categories like preaching, singing, Bible quizzing, and orchestra, just to name a few. Matt Williams, Executive Director for MAACS, explained the significance of the event in the lives of students:
“Our main mission is to help prepare students to have a biblical worldview of ministry and life. We’re helping them to use their talents and abilities, not for performance, but for ministry. I’ve had a number of students tell me that it helps them understand how their talents can be used for the Lord and not just for their own public acclaim.”
According to Williams, the event has been held for approximately 35 years. The winners of each category receive trophies and ribbons and have the opportunity to compete at the national competition in April. In the past, the event had been held in Kansas City, which was more centrally located to the group, but recently moved the event to Faith’s campus.
“We moved it up here (to Faith) a few years ago,” said Williams. “It’s been a great move. It’s on a college campus, and even more important, Faith rolls out the red carpet. They call off classes so we can take over the place and utilize their student workers. It fits into the philosophy of what we’re trying to do. It’s really worked out very well.”
Faith’s role in the event continues to expand. Over one hundred students and staff volunteered to manage the event, helping with registration, setup, and tear-down, hosting students in dorms and judging the competitions. This year, for the first time, Faith offered scholarships to their Summer Music Camp to some of the winners of the music categories.
The interaction between Faith students and junior and senior high contestants is invaluable in the eyes of MAACS directors. It gives the MAACS students a chance to see what life is like on a conservative, college campus, and to see first-hand from current Faith students how they can participate in activities like Chorale, orchestra, and handbells.
“I think as they see and hear the Faith students, it gives them a vision of what they can do in the future,” said Williams.