Building Up Disciples in Servanthood

What is BUDS?

B.U.D.S. is a summer-long discipleship program designed to deepen your walk with God and equip you to love and serve your community. Through daily prayer, mentorship, Bible study, work, and service, we pursue spiritual growth together with Christ (1 Thes 5:17, Prov 27:17, 2 Tim 2:15). Each day you will grow through Scripture, know God more intimately, build Christlike habits, and serve the vulnerable, remembering to do all things “heartily, as to the Lord” (Col 3:23) and to “by love serve one another” (Gal 5:13). B.U.D.S. exists to help you seek God with your whole heart (Jer 29:13)—and to live out the Gospel by loving your neighbor in meaningful, practical ways.

Why BUDS?

There is no pursuit more important than a knowledge of Jesus and, having found that knowledge, leading others into it. Out of our love for God, Jesus calls us to a life of purpose and mission, reminding us in the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and behold, I am with you always” (Matt 28:19–20). B.U.D.S. exists to deepen your love for God and help you live out your calling with courage and clarity through fellowship, discipleship, and mentoring. Though giving up a summer may seem like a sacrifice, the freedom and strength that come from a confident walk with God far outweigh anything you give up. If you desire to grow in your knowledge of God, deepen your love for Him, and become better equipped to minister to those around you, then this program is for you. 

What Does the Day to Day Look Like

On a given day you will start your morning with chores at the homestead, working the soil and getting your body moving (1Thess 4:11). We will then follow this time with guided prayer and meditation on Scripture (Col 4:2, Ps 119:11). In the early afternoon we will either have a group discussion or mentorship meetings. Then the late afternoon is dedicated to serving the local community (1 Pet 4:10).

Why Spiritual Disciplines

The disciplines of prayer, study, fasting, labor, and worship are a bedrock of formation that provide a steady, long term trajectory of growth while avoiding spiritual highs and burnout (1 Cor 15:58). In our day to day, they create rhythms that allow us to easily sink below the surface of the noise around us and connect with God. In the long term they help us to develop stronger, more prolific attachments to God that carry us through the ups and downs of our personal life and the world around us (Gal 6:9). 

Why We Pursue Spiritual Formation

Regardless of what career we are pursuing and regardless of what stage of life we currently find ourselves in, we must acknowledge that God has called us to the highest of purposes and the fullness of life (Matt 5:13-16). A stagnant life and stunted soul, mediocrity and a lack of pursuit, are not what we are called to. We must become aware of who God calls us to be - sons, leaders, conquerors (Rom 8:16-17, 37). Spiritual formation is about becoming the man God has created you to be and developing deeper attachments to Him. It is a process of walking in the light, receiving his love, habituating spiritual disciplines, growing in understanding, and kindling a love for Him and for our neighbors (1 John 1:7, 4:19, 1 Tim 4:7-8, Prov 4:7). 

Why We Seek Communion With God

Life was made for more than just doctrine; it was made for a walk with God (1 John 1:3). Salvation was given for more than just doing
good things; it was given that we might be reunited with our Creator (Rom 5:10). Your heart, mind, body and spirit were made to
know God relationally and experientially. We do not control this process but seek God earnestly, trusting that when we knock
the door will be opened (Matt 7:8).

Why the Whole Being Matters

We were not made to give our minds alone to God nor would we have fully received his salvation if all that knew him were one piece of us (Luke 10:27). If our thoughts pursue Jesus but our heart pulls us away, we are a divided being. If our spirit knows God but our bodies are idle, we will be tempted away from the rest we have found. If our hearts rest in Jesus but our spirit does not know him, we will be found timid in the face of opposition. All parts of our being must come into a knowledge of God so that no one part is pulled away from what is has
received (Eph 4:13-14).

Why the Local Church Matters

We are not made to walk alone but rather are gifted with a dependency on God and his people. We are neither strong enough to walk alone nor so fully equipped as to be every member of the body by ourselves (1 Cor 12:21). It is for this reason that all members of the body must gather together regularly and submit themselves to each other (Heb 10:24-25). We believe especially that the local church pastors have a unique, irreplaceable role in the shepherding of all the members of the body of Christ, and that the weekly gathering of the local church has a unique, irreplaceable role in the life and worship of all the members of the body of Christ. Hillsdale College cannot take the place of the local church in our life but rather partners with the local church in their efforts to spiritually form its members. It is through this cooperation that we seek to be able to better serve in and through the local church wherever God takes us after our time in Hillsdale.