Ransom is a diverse family-like student-led ministry that spreads the message of Christ. It is a safe place for students to shape their leadership and grow individuality while building a community. Ransom is a non-profit, and the name is an acronym that stands for Radical Athlete and Student Oasis Ministry.
Ransom strives for the youth to have fun while receiving an opportunity to building a relationship with God and the community. The ministry often hosts events like conferences and camps. Some of these events include going to games on campus, having holiday break trips, and taking trips to other campuses. The ministry is non-profit and funds themselves, often taking buses to do community service
The organization possesses 98-acre land including a center where the community can hold conferences and meet up. The current campus where the ministry meets are the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Samford University, Campbell University, University of South Alabama, University of Alabama and Texas Southern University.
The ministry was founded in 2011 at Samford by a group of football players and students who were attending the “Football Bible Study.” An idea to invite a female to the bible study to conduct an experiment was done, and two separate bible studies would take off. One day, both parties decided to come together and thus create Ransom.
Ransom is in full swing under the guidance of Jeremy Towns, who started the ministry while being a student himself, and is still actively looking to expand to more campuses.
The Samford branch of the ministry meets every Monday in the Brooks auditorium of Samford University at 8 p.m., but occasional collaborations between schools are common.
The ministry recently launched a branch at Tennessee State University on Oct. 28. — that same night, Samford and UAB collaborated to host Samford President Beck Taylor.
Taylor shared his appreciation for the ministry for giving a welcoming love of Christ to him and the UAB students and spoke on Samford’s annual theme: gratitude.
“When we wake up in the morning and we adopt a posture of gratitude,” Taylor said, “it’s amazing how doing that one thing changes our entire perspective.”
Taylor shared a glimpse into his life story for those who have gone through the same battles: divorced parents, poverty and a brief season of homelessness.
Taylor expressed his longing for a father figure during his young years, and a time of trouble during school.
At 9 years old, Taylor’s mother remarried what he described as a “saint of a man.” Taylor said the event that changed his perception of life.
Taylor recalled “one of the most sacred, one of the most special documents of [his] life,” — it was when a legal document was pulled out. Taylor expressed that the importance of the document was so great, only a few people have seen it and are aware of its existence.
The crowd shared laughter as reading spectacles were drawn.
The document was an adoption certificate for Taylor.
“This document, for me, represents a redeemed past and a brighter future,” said Taylor.
Taylor wanted the students to have three takeaways from his story: our perfectly heavenly father loves us, we do not have to exert ourselves to receive his love and living in the present today is the best thing you could do.
He shared how it is a Christ followers’ duty to realize they are adopted heirs, and because of that, their inheritance is eternal life with Christ.
Staff Writer
