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Service Day

On October 6, 2009, Bethel held its 21st annual Service Day. At 8:00 am, the group leaders met in the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium for a brief explanation of their responsibilities and what to expect for the day. They were given informational clipboards and signs with which to gather their group. Students arrived at 8:15 am, and were sent into the auditorium to find their group leader. Shawn Holtgren shared a brief devotional about service and then dismissed the groups accordingService Day to their bus number. As the students filed out of the auditorium, they picked up a Service Day t-shirt and a sack breakfast provided by Sodexho. Students and staff separated into their assigned vehicles which included twenty buses, four Bethel vehicles, and some personal cars and headed to their organization to arrive around 9:00 am.

During Service Day, 911 Bethel students and staff were able to serve at 47 different organizations and perform jobs that included raking and other yard work, removing old carpet, organizing, cleaning, internal demolition, weeding, picking up trash, packing boxes, sorting toys and clothes, painting, and reading to kids. Most of the organizations were in the Mishawaka/South Bend region, but there were also some places in Elkhart, Granger, Goshen, Bremen, Niles, and Wakarusa.

Between 12:30 and 1:30, when the work was done at the sites, groups came back to Bethel and enjoyed a lunch at the Dining Commons. The lunch consisted of hot dogs, nachos, corn dogs, French fries, and soft pretzels. The group leaders handed their clipboards, attendance sheets, completed evaluation forms, and signs to the Service Learning staff seated at a table outside the Dining Commons. The general attitude following Service Day was upbeat with a sense of accomplishment.

Freshmen Orientation and Block Service

Freshmen at Bethel are required to do eight hours of community service as part of their Block course requirements. During freshmen orientation, the class serves the city of Mishawaka, by helping with clean-up of the river bank area. This event counts for three of the required hours.

At some time during the first semester, Block professors and mentors arrange for their individual blocks to do a service project together lasting at least two hours. Participation in these two events combined with Service Day, meet the service requirement for Bethel College freshmen.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a seasonal event put on by Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that ministers to suffering children by bringing "joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love". In November 2009, Bethel College students collected and donated 122 shoe boxes full of gifts for less fortunate children! This total for 2009 means that since first partnering with OCC in 2007, Bethel College has increased its donations by over 300%! Prayerfully consider how you can contribute to Operation Christmas Child in the future.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bethel College cancelled its classes from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 18th, 2010 providing an ideal time slot for service within the community. The Service Learning Center matched community organizations with campus groups, athletic teams, and clubs that chose to participate. Nine Bethel College groups including the Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams, Men’s Baseball team, Bethel College Cheerleaders, and multiple residential halls joined in celebrating the spirit of the day with afternoon community service projects. In total, 133 students, faculty, and staff served 9 organizations and neighbors. These groups did a variety of service projects ranging from interacting with residents at a nursing home, to cleaning and organizing, to visiting local homeless shelters. Service to others is the perfect way to remember the man who selflessly served his nation, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Labor for Your Neighbor

On April 4, 2009, the Service Learning Center held its first annual voluntary service day appropriately named, Labor for Your Neighbor. This opportunity was created to reach out to Bethel’s immediate neighbors and show them Christ’s love through manual labor and meaningful fellowship. Sixty-five Bethel students volunteered to participate and were able to serve fifteen neighbors surrounding the college. The students assisted the neighbors with tasks such as raking, gardening, and cleaning gutters, basements, and garages. Once the students were finished with the spring cleaning, they invited the neighbors back to campus for a barbecue and a Bethel men’s baseball game. The second annual Labor for Your Neighbor is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The Service Learning Center is expecting to enlist a greater number of volunteers than last year in order to serve even more neighbors in the community!

Praise and Pancakes

The goal of the Service Learning Center is to plan and facilitate at least one service opportunity per month for Bethel students to participate in. For February 2010, that event was Praise and Pancakes. On Sunday, February 21, forty Bethel students loaded into vans and made the trip to either Hope Ministries in Mishawaka or Faith Mission of Elkhart. Once at their respective locations, the students began preparing a pancake breakfast for the residents. As the morning continued, many students were able to eat with and get to know some of the residents. After the meal was finished, the students facilitated a worship service for everyone to participate in. The students were thrilled to be Jesus’ hand extended that morning and the residents were extremely appreciative to receive the love freely given by willing servants. The success and impact of this service opportunity will no doubt make it an annual event for the Service Learning Center.