History
In
1980 Buddy Young, who was a seminary student and part-time Baptist Student
Ministry Director in Dallas, took a small group of students to South Padre
Island during Spring Break. The group camped in tents on the island and
shared the gospel with spring breakers as God provided the opportunities.
Several years later they began to notice that transportation was a problem,
especially during the week of spring break. The group realized that
they could minister to spring breakers by providing free rides. Then
the van ministry came into being. As they picked up people, they would
share the gospel with the students they came in contact with. Soon free
breakfast, free e-mail check, free water, free sunscreen, and beach clean-up
were added to the list of ministries.
In
1998 the South Padre Beach Reach model expanded to Panama City Beach, Florida
and other Spring Break sites, where they continue to use the "Acts of Kindness"
approach to Spring Break Evangelism.
Buddy
is currently the Director of the West Texas A&M University BSM where
he continues to mobilize students for missions. South Padre Beach Reach
has now expanded to include 400 students from around the country, who give
up their spring break to serve God in a variety of ways on South Padre
Island.