Over Spring Break, members from the University of the Ozarks' Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) teamed up with students from other area universities to participate in Mission Arlington, a non-profit mission organization dedicated to community service in Arlington, Texas.
The trip was organized by U of O BCM director Kaitlynn Williams and university staff member Vanessa Hollowell, who were happy to collaborate with other BCM chapters.
Nine students from University of the Ozarks’ Baptist Collegiate Ministries were among the volunteers at Mission Arlington during Spring Break 2014
"Of the 17 students, nine were from U of O, six from Henderson State, and two from Arkansas Tech," Hollowell said. "We did community service projects during the morning hours, and led Rainbow Express, a children’s outreach effort in area apartment complexes during the afternoons."
Andrew Cummings, a U of O senior from Mansfield, Texas, enjoyed spreading the word of Christ, while also helping the children and community members.
"Every day, we would have work projects around the community. It could be anything from picking up trash, to moving furniture, to delivering food; anything to help out the community. Then, we’d spend the afternoons working with Rainbow Express in the area apartment complexes, hanging out with kids from the area, learning memory verses, doing crafts and singing songs," Cummings explained.
This Spring Break marked Cummings’ fourth trip to Mission Arlington, and he had a special connection with the work this time.
"I have always wanted to give back to the community," he said. "I know that I had it easy growing up, but I know that a lot of children don’t have it easy. And, I wanted to help out in whatever way I could and spread the word. However, this year I felt even more of a drive to help with Mission Arlington, because I feel like God is calling me into full-time mission work after I graduate."
Topics: Interfaith Studies