Histroy of BeachReach
The History of BeachReach
In 1980 Buddy Young, who was a seminary student and part-time Baptist Student Ministry director in Dallas, took a small group of students to South Padre Island, Texas, during Spring Break. The group camped in tents on the island and shared the gospel with Spring Breakers as God provided the opportunities. Several years later they began to notice that transportation was a problem, especially during the week of Spring Break. The group realized that they could minister to Spring Breakers by providing free rides. As they picked up Spring Breakers, they shared the gospel with them, and so began the van ministry. Soon free breakfast was added to the list of ways the group ministered while in South Padre. In 1995 the South Padre BeachReach model expanded to Panama City Beach, Florida. The importance of focusing on sharing the gospel with college students on Spring Break through the “Acts of Kindness” has served as the hallmark of BeachReach.
PANCAKES FOR ALL
In 2014, a documentary was shot on the BeachReach experience in Panama City Beach, FL. The elements of this video provides you a clear perspective on the impact of BeachReach over the years.
Articles written about Beachreach PCB over the years
BeachReach: free rides, pancakes, Gospel encounters (2019-Baptist Press)
Spring breakers find Jesus ‘by surprise’ during BeachReach (2014-Baptist Press)
Spring Break: Where Life-Saving Ministry Meets Life-Changing Pancakes (2013-Baptist Press)