A Spring Break of Service (Mar 08)
"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Philippians 2:4-7 (NIV)
9 students. 36 hours in the car. 2,086 miles. 5 days of service. What would motivate these students from the Muhlenburg DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship to exchange their cherished Spring Break for a week of laying down sod and pulling up weeds? Jason and Sarah, two of the student leaders who went on this trip, shared how the primary vision of this trip was twofold: to build and deepen community with one another, and to learn how to willingly and joyfully serve others.
And so the car ride began. These nine students would travel to Orlando, Florida to serve with the Wycliffe Associates for the week. Once arriving in Orlando and setting up camp in the volunteer center, the students spent the next 5 days getting to know the other volunteers and working alongside them in the grounds maintenance. Since Orlando serves as the “hub” of many international Christian ministries, these students were also able to visit and learn about the many other ministries which the Lord is using to bring His gospel to the world. Although the work itself may not have been particularly revolutionizing, the students agreed that the trip as a whole was extremely impacting.
“As one of the big goals of our trip, we wanted to grow in ministering to one another, and enfold the newer students 'into the family'…” Jason shared. The Lord certainly gave them that opportunity, growing them in unity with one another during the week. He provided them with ample opportunities to engage each other in heart penetrating, gospel-driven conversation. “We were able to spend a lot of time understanding the way people think and process and how can we better care for others in light of our differences,” Jason explained.
Jason was also particularly struck by the picture of Biblical community he saw throughout the trip, “When Christians get together, opportunities to incarnate Christ flow out. We went there to serve, but we ended being served a lot by Christians we never knew or met before!”
Sarah was particularly excited by the many Christian ministries they visited and how each contributes uniquely to the advancement of the gospel around the world. She shared how easy it is to think that impacting others with the gospel happens primarily after graduating from college. “But that's not true at all,” she shared. “We have a great opportunity here at college that can potentially affect the whole world as well! Maybe the one person that I share the gospel with now will be end up translating the Bible for an entire people group in Indonesia some day.”
Praise the Lord for using a week of service for these Muhlenburg
students to expand their picture of relationships, service, and the
Lord's work around the world. The impact of this single week goes far
beyond newly gardened grounds for the Wycliffe Headquarters—the Lord is
teaching these students truths that will affect their ministry to
fellow students on campus! Praise God for their willingness to labor
for the Lord where He has called them.
