Sam Houston State University student shares how a campus conversation changed his life
When Pedro Gomez walked through the Sam Houston State University campus last December, he didn’t expect that a few simple questions from a group of student missionaries would set his life on a new course. Less than a year later, the 22-year-old is preparing to travel to Jamaica on his first international mission trip — a journey he calls “the result of God’s plan, not my own.”
‘It hasn’t even been a year since I accepted Christ’
“It actually hasn’t even been a year since I accepted Christ,” Gomez said during a live interview on Good Morning Huntsville. “The BSM came up to me and shared the gospel. I didn’t accept it right then, but later I started feeling convicted of the sins I was doing. A month later, I texted one of them and said, ‘What does it mean to live like Christ?’ On January 17, I accepted Christ.”
The outreach came from the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM), an organization that provides faith-based fellowship, mentorship, and service opportunities for college students across Texas. The BSM team regularly visits campus to ask students about their beliefs and offer prayer or conversation.
“I had heard of church before but didn’t know what it meant to have a personal relationship with God,” Gomez said. “The Lord opened my heart that day.”
A new direction
Gomez was born in Minneapolis and spent parts of his childhood in Mexico and New Orleans before settling in Houston. After graduating high school, he moved to Huntsville to attend SHSU and study criminal justice. His plan was to become a police officer and eventually a detective. But his encounter with the BSM altered everything.
“Before I got saved, I had my own plans,” he said. “After I accepted Christ, I realized I wanted to do what He wants me to do. I used to think of any sin that people can do — I probably did it. After that, He saved me from it. It’s been amazing. It’s been a blessing.”
Through the encouragement of BSM leader Joshua Mahshi, Gomez became active in several campus ministries and started attending First Baptist Church Huntsville. “Josh has been a really good friend,” Gomez said. “He guided me through my faith, disciples me, and holds me accountable. He even invited me to church, and I’ve stayed there ever since.”
Faith in action
Gomez now serves in four BSM ministries, including outreach to international students. “We’re out there spending time with them — not just seeing them as projects but as people and friends,” he said. “We reach out to the lost and talk about faith. Every Thursday we have Bible study, and we’ve seen it grow so much that we’ve had to bring out more chairs and tables. People are hungry for the Word.”
That hunger has inspired him to take the next step in faith. This January, Gomez will join a Go Now Missions team to Jamaica, where he will help rebuild homes, assist local churches, and share the gospel.
“The Lord has put it in my heart to go,” he said. “We’ll be building houses, building relationships, and evangelizing. It was a struggle deciding whether to go because it’s during my winter break and I wanted to spend that time with family. But I felt God saying, ‘Be faithful and go.’”
‘Trust in God’s plan’
The mission comes at a critical time for Jamaica, which was struck recently by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that caused widespread damage. Gomez believes the timing of his trip is no coincidence.
“I think the Lord wants us to be there for a reason,” he said. “He’s already opening doors.”
Gomez said Jeremiah 29:11 has become a guiding verse for him: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”
“Sometimes being a Christian isn’t easy,” Gomez said. “There are trials, there’s temptation, and it can be overwhelming, especially being a college student. But we just have to trust in God’s plan and where He wants us to be.”
Supporting the mission
Gomez is raising funds to help cover travel and expenses for the mission trip. Donations can be made through the Baptist Student Ministry’s Go Now Missions portal at tinyurl.com/pedrobsm. Supporters are asked to include “Pedro Gomez” in the comments to ensure funds go toward his trip.
“Even five dollars helps,” he said. “It’s not just about the money — it’s about being part of what God is doing.”
Host Rob Hipp announced on-air that Hello Huntsville would donate $50 to Gomez’s mission effort, encouraging others to match or exceed that amount.
A growing movement
Gomez said he sees signs of revival on campus as more students come to faith and take part in ministry. “People are hungry,” he said. “They want something real, and they’re finding it in Christ.”
From a student who once questioned his purpose to a young man now preparing to serve others overseas, Gomez said his journey is proof that faith can change everything. “The Lord gave me a new life,” he said. “I’m just following where He leads.”