Home Essentials Brand Gives Back to the BU Missions Club

Did you know Bluefield University’s Student Ministries team (BUSM) has its very own clothing brand? Home Essentials is an online clothing storefront where BUSM doesn’t have to front the price of materials. 

 Home Essentials was started in 2021, but was called Elevate Essentials until 2023. Home Essentials was made to bring a sense of Christian apparel “unique to the identity of BU’s campus,” BU Campus Pastor Mason West shared. 

“We also believe that Home Essentials doesn’t just offer simple style, but substance with its mission to promote lifestyle in Christ while also supporting our missions’ initiatives with our Missions Club on campus,” West said. “It’s a movement brand.” 

All profits from each apparel purchase go to BU’s Missions Club. Even though profits vary based on the quality of the item of clothing, still every gain goes directly to “advancing the proclamation of the Gospel,” West said.

“I think this initiative could get students engaged and involved in the Missions Club,” West said. “Because of how much we believe in raising money for these mission initiatives, we are putting all profit towards it. It’s a small amount in consideration of all of the amazing donors we have every year, but any amount helps advance consistent missions.” 

Dr. Henry Clary, an assistant professor of Christian studies who oversees the Missions Club, said the donations from Home Essentials or any other money earned from selling concessions are equally distributed among all student missionaries who participate in BU missions trips. This spring, one BU missions team will travel to Spain to work with a team of Baptist church planters reaching the university district of Madrid, while a second team will head to Ecuador to help with children’s ministry in a Christian children’s home in Quito. All will benefit from the proceeds of Home Essentials sales.

“The Missions Club is a vital part of our campus community, and we love them very much,” said Grace Trent, a senior worship leader for BUSM. “Many of our student ministry leaders and even our campus pastor, Mason West, have participated in international mission trips during their college career. We wanted to pour back into a ministry that does the work of God, which is to make disciples of all nations. That is just what the Missions Club does on their yearly mission trips. By donating a portion of the proceeds to the Missions Club, we can further their ministry and reach.”

Trent said she hopes that the proceeds of Home Essentials going to the Missions Club will help the students involved by cutting down the cost of their trip so they will be less stressed during the semesters about attending numerous fundraisers or coming up with the money on their own.

“We love our students,” Trent said, “and this is one way we can serve them and their passions.” 

Trent also shared that anytime students, staff, faculty, or community members wear Home Essentials they are “simply spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” 

Home Essentials currently has the Abide Collection, which is available online now. The BUSM team is planning on other different collections next year. 

“We plan on developing some more of what we call our “Chapel Essentials” to have unique pieces based on our theme for the year as well,” West said. 

West also noted that BUSM started this initiative at a time when there wasn’t a Campus Store. Now having a Campus Store, he believes, along with their own printing system will result in being able to offer greater “grab and go” items at future student ministry events. 

To shop the Abide Collection from Home Essentials, go to @bu_campusministries on Instagram and click the link tree in the bio or visit the Home Essentials website.