Turning Passion Into Purpose: A New Club Begins Serving Beyond Campus

How Bethel students have helped make a difference through shared values and service to the community

“I felt like Bethel doesn’t do that much service and outreach. I felt there was at least a small group of students that would probably be willing and able to serve the community. So I thought I’d try to make an organization that would provide and help with that.” With this intention in mind, sophomore Ben Janzen, from Henderson, Nebraska, decided to turn an idea into action. Majoring in both business and religion, Jansen shared how the new service club at Bethel College came to life this semester.

What first motivated Jansen to create this organization was his personal passion for service and his hope to inspire more students to engage with the broader community. “It was kind of my own idea,” he explained. “And then when I pitched it around to some friends of mine and some other people who I thought might be interested, they all seemed like they would be interested and would appreciate having this on campus. So I decided to go ahead and go for it and see how it worked out.” The positive response made him officially form a group that could bring students together with a shared mission: making a difference through service and collaboration.

The service club is built around a simple concept, giving students opportunities to step outside campus and serve the community in different ways. The club aims to go out at least once a month, although members often hope to meet even more frequently as participation grows. Whether it involves cleaning, organizing, or assisting with long-term projects, the group focuses on showing up where they are needed around the community.

Junior business administration major, Josiah Buller from Inman Kan., has been an active member since the club’s first meetings. He shared some of the activities they have completed so far. “We’ve had a few events mainly at MCC,” Buller said. “It’s just north of campus, and we have helped clean up around the warehouse.” These early projects, though small in scale, have already given members a sense of purpose and connection.

Bethel students volunteering at the MCC center near campus — Photo from Bethel College Service Club

Jansen added more detail about the group’s involvement with the Mennonite Central Committee. “We went to the MCC center in September and helped with housekeeping stuff,” he shared. “We thought we would go and help them with some cleaning and ongoing service projects.” The MCC center works with a variety of community and global initiatives, making it a meaningful place for students to support through volunteer work.

Looking forward, both Jansen and Buller have ambitious ideas for the upcoming semester. Their goal is to expand the club’s reach and create opportunities that will bring lasting positive impact to the community. “As spring comes around, we will do some yard cleaning and some fundraising so we can buy some materials,” Jansen said. “We want to go to the NTC center to help them with infant care and hygiene kits that they send all over the world.” These projects not only meet local needs but also connect students to global service projects.

Buller also emphasized the importance of spreading the word and growing participants. “We want to bring more people or do events on campus so more students join and participate,” he said. Visibility, he believes, is key to helping the club thrive. “The more students learn about the organization,” shared Buller, “the more likely they will feel inspired to join in.”

Being part of the service club offers more than just volunteer hours, it opens the door to meaningful connections, new friendships, and the chance to be part of something important. “If you feel free and called to serve,” Jansen said, “reach out to me or any of the members. It is a way to help our community and others.”

“If you feel free and called to serve, reach out to me or any of the members. It is a way to help our community and others.”

Ben Jansen