JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 16, 2012 — 51社区 students and staff members participated in three community service projects Jan. 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
In addition, a special chapel service held in the Carl Grant Events Center with guest speaker David Dark honored King鈥檚 legacy.
鈥淭his day is a unique opportunity to partner with those across our nation in service projects to various communities,鈥� said Rachel Ware, Union鈥檚 director of discipleship. 鈥淲e hope that in these projects we both honor Dr. King for his powerful legacy of service, and point to an even greater reality of our Savior, Jesus, who came to serve, not to be served.鈥�
Dark, author of 鈥淓veryday Apocalypse鈥� and 鈥淭he Gospel According to America鈥� spoke about the non-violence of the civil rights movement.
鈥淭he response of the righteous to the suffering that the world inflicts on them is to bless,鈥� Dark said. 鈥淕od does not repay evil for evil, and thus the righteous should not do so, either.鈥�
Dark also said the day had become one of the best holidays for displaying Christ-like compassion.
Union students served at three different sites around the city of Jackson. In the morning, a group of students worked at the Birth Choice Pregnancy Resource Clinic. In the afternoon, one group of students raked leaves, pine cones and gumballs at Hartland Place Apartments, while another group cleaned, dusted and vacuumed at the Care Center.
鈥淚 wanted to help people out and give back to the community,鈥� said Ryan Substad, a senior from Eagan, Minn., who volunteered at the Care Center. 鈥淭he community has helped Union out a lot in the tornado a couple of years back. I wasn鈥檛 here, but I鈥檝e heard stories.鈥�
鈥淚 love going out and working in Jackson, and getting away from campus and actually going and doing stuff,鈥� said Ashley Carswell, a sophomore from Morganton, N.C., who spent the afternoon at Hartland Place. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool to come out and get to know people. Union loves people and loves serving people as a means of serving God.鈥�