Statesboro’s Baptist Collegiate getting 4-story facelift

STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV) – The Baptist Collegiate Ministry near Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus is getting a total remodel, complete with student living quarters.

“I know we have Baptist in the name, but it’s open to anybody and everybody,” said campus minister, Chris Bryan.

Bryan said they’ve had this property next to Georgia Southern’s campus since the ’60s. They offer opportunities for students like worship services and mission trips.

“It’s a place where students can come and learn and grow in their own faith, but also we want them to be able to leave our ministry being a better leader, a better citizen in the world where they can go out and not only find jobs but be the leaders in the jobs and be ready to go,” said Bryan.

Their new facility will be four stories tall with enough space for dozens of rooms, a coffee shop and their ministry, which will stay on the bottom floor.

“They want moms and dads to be able to walk in here and say, ‘This is where I want my son or daughter to live this is the place that they’ll feel safe, that it looks good, that it looks like they want to go,’” said Bryan.

The BCM is independent from GS, so they’ll handle their leasing. Bryan tells News 3 it’s something their organization is doing all over the state, with similar buildings on the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and West Georgia campuses.

“We’re not going to change who we are or what we do,” said Bryan. “We’re still a ministry here on campus that’s still very active and very engaged with our campus, so none of that will change. But at the same time, we’ll have something where we can function for decades to come.”

Bryan says they’re planning security features that keep the bottom floor’s church open and welcoming while keeping residents safe in their rooms.

Bryan says they’ve already gutted their building to get ready for renovations. It’ll be finished towards the middle of 2026.