Service Day spotlight: Newton Christian Church
Service Day spotlight: Newton Christian Church
Bethel College students reflect on their day of community service.
Bethel College is a school founded on the value of community. Whether it is the bond between students around the campus or the support the student body receives from the folks who live in the Newton area, it’s a rich part of who we are.
A tradition every year at the college is for students to participate in what is called Service Day. During this day, students have the day off from classes and instead spend time helping the community. This can mean many things. Sometimes it is an opportunity for students to help weed, paint a building, or spend the day with animals at the shelter.
This year for service I, along with other softball players, a couple of students from the dance team, and one flag football player, headed to Newton Christian Church, to help some of the members clean up the outside and paint exterior walls.
One of the church workers, Ted Mayes from Northern Sedgwick County, states that community service privides a great opportunity “to meet and get to know Bethel students.” Mayes then shared about all the work students do to help. “We would have had to do or pay someone else to do this work.”
Not only is Service Day beneficial for the community, and helps jobs get done faster, but students at Bethel get a lot out of the day as well. Ella Caudill, from Topeka states that “Service Day helps get Bethel out there. It reminds the community that they are important to us.
“It shows that doing something small to help others can go a long way” says Caudill. This is exactly what community service is about.
This event allows the Bethel students to show their gratitude for the continuous support this community pours back into the college. The community of North Newton is largely made up of Bethel students, faculty, and alumni, and it is amazing to see how much everyone cares for each other and this school.