Stepping Out Ministries outreaches to students

The Stepping Out Ministries organization at Southeast Missouri State University is providing students with an opportunity to gather with others of Christian denominations to practice their faiths.

The religious organization brings students with many different Christian beliefs together with different ministry events around campus and in the community, according to Deashia Swan, founder of the organization and graduate of Southeast.

"[Stepping Out Ministries] encourages you to build a better relationship with God, and I think that is what a lot of people are looking for and they necessarily don't know how, or where to go, or who will accept them," said Kristin Pullen, president of the organization. "We're pretty open, and we're willing to help people. We want to see people grow."

The organization uses the Baptist Student Center's building to host many different events for students.

"We do different Bible studies. ... We do different game nights, we try to be there just as a way for students to come and be able to be encouraged if they want some wisdom or they need help with something," Swan said. "We just try to be there to keep them lifting while they're here. A lot of students are away from home, and we want to be an outreach to them."

The organization also tries to host big events around campus. Swan said that the last big event they held was in 2011. However, their next one will be the Stepping Out Ministries Showcase on April 13.

"Basically we are going to be showcasing different talent," Swan said. "That is what this showcase is, pretty much to expose some of the people who are hit into this area. We have people coming from St. Louis, we have people coming from Memphis. We also have some people here locally that will be there. Basically just to showcase their talent, their gifts and their abilities, and just to bring people together to fellowship and assemble ourselves together."

This is the fourth big event that this organization has held, according to Pullen. The organization has been a part of the university for the past two years, but that's not the entire extent of its history.

"The actual organization was started in 2007, and then we created a branch here on campus for the students," Swan said.

The organization also has a sorority affiliated with it. Sigma Omega Mu Christian Sorority, Inc. branches out from Stepping Out Ministries, according to Swan.

Pullen is also vice president of the sorority.

"I think something that is needed within this campus can be found here because it is relationship with God. It's not focused on religion, and that's what a lot of people are looking for," Pullen said.

Both Pullen and Swan encourage people of all Christian denominations to join their ministry.

"Even though we have a sorority, we do try to keep them separated at times because we don't want to push people away," Swan said. "Our ministry, Stepping Out, is a ministry, and it's open to everyone."

Stepping Out Ministries meet at the BSC at 7 p.m. every Tuesday night. All students are welcome to join.