Lend me your hand
Up From the Ground We Arose
In high school, I was a part of a youth group in the small town of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. One event that really opened my eyes to the importance of sacrifice and service in the life of a Christian was a thirty-hour fast that my friends and I participated in. The whole goal of this famine was obviously to not eat for 30 hours, but to also in that time, give of our time and energy to the community around us. We painted the Salvation Army. I came to realize later that we were doing something with the intention of being the hands and feet of Jesus. Through this experience, a group of teenagers were being practically taught the importance of service and that is a message that has stuck with me ever since. Through this lesson and many discussions I had later on throughout the day, I learned the incredible responsibility we are given by Christ to go out and serve the world and to show His love to every individual we meet. Throughout my college career thus far, like most college students, I have wondered if I’ve chosen the right major, if I should add or drop a class, or even if I was attending the right school. Instead of worrying so much about these things, I want to focus your attention on something very important: No matter the reason or motivation behind moving to Greenville, we are all here for a reason. According to our website, “Greenville College empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming Christcentered education in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies.” Notice how character and service go hand in hand in this sentence? This is not mere coincidence nor is it just two good things randomly picked as examples for a “well-rounded” person. They are inseparable, complementary, and essential aspects of living a fulfilled life. I believe that when you engage in being a servant to another person it requires certain Christ-like characteristics, such as love, humility and kindness that begin to affect the very deepest part of your being. For those of you who do not know me, I am the new outreach coordinator on the Vespers staff. My goal is to give every person on this campus the opportunity to give back to the town we are living in; not only for the benefit of the community, but for the opportunity for individuals to reach their fullest potential. I am fully aware that not everyone on campus is a Christian, nor do they enjoy going to chapel or Vespers. However I do think it is safe to assume that many of you believe that helping others is the right thing to do. So, here is my challenge to every student on campus: first, accept and embrace that you are here for a reason. Second, take notice of the community we are a part of. And lastly, get actively involved in making a difference in the lives of those around us. When you begin to focus on these things instead of all the pressure and stress surrounded by being a student, from personal experience I can tell you that life will be just a little bit more enjoyable.
By: Jennifer Gray
16 | The Vista Living Beyond
Monks clung to it, and the stories of the benefits of it, the sacred nature of the act, continue to be passed down as the old gardener teaches the youngsters about the circle of life and the simple joys that come from dipping down into the soil. With all of that said, I simply have to ask, when is the last time you tended a garden? For some it could be as recent as this summer, but for others it may have been awhile, maybe that first grade experiment with the pea pods. Did you know you could give it a go again? Now wrapping up its third round of COR 401 projects, the Adamah Community Garden is a perfect chance to connect back with the earth that God made. During the fall of 2012 a COR 401 group (Wes Bergen, Andie Rea, Garret Rea, Krysta Beam, Millie Hodnett, Lili Castillo, Lisa Krajecki) began to plant the seeds of this garden. They got grants, they secured a location, and they began to present the theology behind the idea. Working together, they proposed that working side by side with members of the community would provide excellent opportunities to break down walls between the town and the college. Then with the idea germinating in the minds of all who listened they did the last thing they needed to in order for the project to not end when they finished their presentation they passed on the mantle. In the spring semester of 2013 Hannah Groves, Mikey Ward, Jennifer Carter, Matthew Cowman, Corinne Coon, and Jeff Langley picked up their tools and began to take a concept and breathe life into it. They built beds to plant seedlings, they equipped the area to be one of productivity and peace, and they began to present possible options for use of the garden through a campus Garden Club. They also taught about the relationship between mankind and the earth. With convincing theology and life sprouting up, this team again passed the job on to another COR group to finish it out. Austin Moore, Denee Menghini, Alyssa Gosselin, Tyler Semple, and Ben Bowers are the third COR 401 group to take on this project. Between expanding the site to include more beds, providing instruction for care of the garden and proper enjoyment of the food, and initiating the Greenville College Garden Club these five are furthering the idea to continuity and the community to unity. Maybe it’s been awhile since you got your hands dirty, or you enjoyed the fresh product of your work. Here’s a chance to know the joys of both. Contact any of the current COR group by their campus email, for ways to get involved and be a part of what could be a major element of the future of Greenville College. So, come along, grab a trowel, and dig in.
By: Jon Johnson