Bowling Green — Western Kentucky University students witnessed God at work, according to a campus missionary, when 267 college women committed their lives to Christ at a recent outreach event.

“Girls’ Night Out,” a RISK: Bowling Green event organized by WKU’s Baptist Campus Ministry, drew more than 600 young women. They filled every seat in the Downing Student Union auditorium and many spilled out into the lobby.

On stage, Christian speaker Marian Jordon Ellis shared intimate stories of her life before Christ. She talked frankly about searching for love and acceptance through sex and alcohol, and how it only made the hole in her heart bigger.

“She really connected with them,” WKU Campus Missionary Tommy Johnson said.

Ellis, founder of Redeemed Girl Ministries, is author of “Sex and the City Uncovered,” which contrasts her stories of “hookups, hangovers and heartbreaks” with the unfailing love of Jesus Christ. Ellis has authored six books aimed at young women.

“She spoke truth into their lives, and you could tell they could identify with her story. She shared the truth of the gospel plainly and clearly and called for a response of commitment,” Johnson recalled.

He said “God moved” as nearly half of the women in attendance made decisions for Christ. Johnson said female ministry leaders with BCM have been following up with students through phone calls and emails. The hope is to plug the young women in to local churches and Bible studies.

Campus associate Jessie N. said she sees Girls’ Night Out as moving the BCM one step closer to developing a relationship with sorority students.

“One of our goals is to have a better, loving and respected connection with our Greek community on our campus,” she said. “I think we’ve achieved that with these girls.”

The event was open to all female students, but was targeted toward sororities that must accumulate a certain number of extracurricular educational requirements. Jessie said only 50 women who attended were not members of a campus sorority.

Both Jessie and Johnson thanked Kentucky Baptists for supporting Girls’ Night Out through their gifts to the Cooperative Program.

“We are grateful to the Kentucky Baptist Convention and Kentucky Baptist churches for making this possible and seeing university campuses as a mission field,” Johnson said. (KBC)