Service Learning By: Beth Everett

Definition of Service Learning Service learning can often be described as a time when one serves other people through various activities and gains more knowledge about life, others, and themselves.

Benefits of Service Learning Service learning benefits not only those who are being served, but it also benefits those who are serving. It benefits those who are being served by meeting their needs, and it benefits those who are serving by allowing them to learn about the needs of the world and allows them to make a difference in the lives of others.

Run For Missions I served at the Baptist Collegiate Ministries’ (BCM) Run for Missions this year. Run for Missions was a fund raiser in which people paid to run four miles and their money went straight towards summer mission trips around the world. I helped people with registration, gave them their assigned numbers, and helped make goodie bags for them. BCM Run For Missions Volunteers posing with the Chic-fil-A cow!

Me helping make goodie bags for the runners

New Orleans Mission Trip I served in New Orleans over Spring Break this year. I helped paint and rebuild All Nations Church as well as volunteer at Green Light New Orleans which replaces standard light bulbs with fluorescent, energy efficient light bulbs for free. Picture taking was not allowed at Green Light New Orleans. Standing in front of All Nations Church

More Pictures from New Orleans Scraping and painting the side roomScraping the walls of the church

Community Day 2012 I served at Community Day which is a day set up where people can come have a good time with their families playing free games and receiving free food and clothes. I mostly helped with the bean bag toss. Some BCM Community Day Volunteers standing by a bounce house

Kaitlyn and I posing with our gifts from FCF (Fellowship of Christian Farmers)

What I learned from Service Learning Service learning is not always easy for the ones serving others. It is often very exhausting, but very rewarding. I have learned that being physically exhausted will always be worth helping someone else. At Community Day 2012, I was able to see someone receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and bond with underprivileged children, so all the hours I spent in the hot sun was worth it. I also learned that I am truly blessed, and it really helps me realize how blessed I am when I help others in need.