By Sam Ivy
After nearly four decades of faithful service, Michael Ball, director of the Mississippi State University (MSU) Baptist Student Union (BSU) for the past 25 years has announced his retirement effective August 1, 2026.
“The past 25 years serving as BSU director at Mississippi State University have truly been a dream come true,” Ball shared in his letter to administration. “Mississippi State is where God first began to shape and confirm my call to student ministry during my own student days, and returning to serve here has been a profound blessing beyond words. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to give back to the place that played such a pivotal role in my spiritual formation.”
I have had the privilege of knowing Michael since transferring to MSU in 2015. I would not be the man that I am today if not for how God used Michael Ball in my life. I learned that discipleship was not a program to be followed but when a young man is led by a wiser (“much older”) man to pursue Jesus daily.
There were many meetings in his office where I felt the pressure of life weighing me down, and through tears, laughter, and accountability, Michael always pointed my gaze back to Jesus! I am thankful to have been able to learn from him as a student, serve alongside him as a BSU director, and enjoy life together as a friend.
Which is why, when he called just after the new year to share the news of his intent to retire, I thought about just hanging up the phone and acting like the conversation never happened. Mississippi State BSU has been an influential ministry across Southern Baptist Convention life for over a century, and Michael Ball has kept his hand on the wheel overseeing great strides of growth in student population as well as the construction of the current MSU BSU Center in 2016.
What Michael is most known for, though, is not what he has done but how he treats others. His care and compassion for his coworkers, students, and friends, is a great encouragement. I trust that he and his wife, Carol, will be spending much of their time visiting grandchildren in the immediate future as well as the occasional Mississippi State athletic event.
Dr. Grant Arinder, pastor of Bridgeway Church, Starkville, and Dr. Ken Hester, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pontotoc, were students together in the BSU ministry at MSU, and have remained close friends throughout the decades. You can find this trio and their families together most Saturdays at MSU Football games.
“(My wife) Lori and I love Michael and Carol dearly,” said Arinder.” Our introduction became one of the greatest enriching deposits that was ever made into our lives, and the dividends have only grown over the years. We are rich indeed.”
“Michael loves Jesus and has conducted his ministry in a way that demonstrates the closeness that he has with the Lord,” added Hester. “He has been a blessing to Mississippi Baptists and generations of people — as college student at MSU BSU, a director at Pearl River Community College BSU, an associate at Southern Miss BSU, and as the director at MSU.”
Michael’s career in BSU ministry began during his seminary days at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he began serving as part-time BSU director at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster (1987-1989) and then full-time director at San Antonio College and Palo Alto College (1990-1991).
His return to Mississippi Baptist life came by way of his hire as the BSU director at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville (1991-1993). Michael then went on to serve at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg (1993-2001). It was at the USM BSU where he served alongside Lloyd Lunceford, former director of Collegiate Ministries at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
“Michael’s love for students and a deep desire to see them grow and make disciples is the legacy he instilled during his years at Southern Miss,” said Lunceford. “His friendship to me began when he was summer missionary and I was state associate BSU director in downtown Jackson. Our working together created a strong missional foundation that continues to reach and disciple students across the world.”
Michael has worked with many people over the years, and thankfully due to long tenures in staff at MSU BSU, there have been deep relationships formed over the past 25 years.
“As you go through life, there are people you meet that have an influence on you, and then there are those people that help change the trajectory of your life,” shared Ashley Taylor, who served on staff with Michael.” For me, Michael Ball is the latter. With one 45-minute conversation after a Wednesday night choir practice 20 years ago, he totally changed the trajectory my life was on by hiring me to come on staff at the MSU BSU. As a boss, he gave me the room to lead, the grace to fail, and the freedom to try new things even when he knew my crazy ideas were really bad. Quite frankly, I am who I am today in large part due to him helping rewrite my future. And I am forever grateful for his presence in my life.”
“It has been a TRUE joy and honor to serve not only at MSU BSU but also a privilege to work with Michael,” added Daniel Herndon, MSU BSU associate director. “Only the Lord knew the fun we would have, the memories we would make, and most importantly the friend and brother in Christ he was providing in Michael. There is never a day that passes that I do not see the passion he has for BSU and for college students. Michael has served this campus, Mississippi BSU, and the Lord faithfully, and I am thankful to have worked alongside my friend to see it firsthand.”
Please join me in congratulating Michael on his retirement as well as praying for he and Carol as they journey through this new season of life and ministry that will no doubt be filled with time well spent with family and grandchildren and serving however the Lord leads.
Michael, we are thankful for how you carried the baton of BSU ministry these past 38 years in which Mississippi Baptists are deeply indebted to you for your faithful leadership. Thank you for being an example of our mission statement, “To Know Christ and To Make Him Known” on our campuses and everywhere you go!
Ivy is director of Collegiate Ministries at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
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