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“Is this for real? You sure this is free?”
This was the response of a Monticello Road resident who
received one of 266 bags of groceries from CIU’s Student
Mission Connection (SMC) as the group reached out to the local
community.
SMC set up a tent, table and a sign that said “free groceries” just
down Monticello Road from CIU on property recently purchased
by the university.
SMC President Jacob Lester said the goal was to love the
community and show Christ through meeting a physical need.
“I was told, that close to 90 percent of the people on Monticello
Road fall below the poverty line,” Lester said. “We wanted to share
the love of Christ and fulfill the need.”
Columbia International University students are educated from
a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of
Christ. During the fall semester, that began literally down the
street, just across the Broad River in the St. Andrews area and
downtown at local ministries, charities and nonprofits.
A CIU Prayer Day began with a session of prayer and worship. But
then the students put feet to their prayers when they fanned out
across the Columbia area for a variety of service projects. Some
didn’t have to go far as they picked up trash along Monticello
Road, the gateway to the campus. Others volunteered at ministries
such as the Salvation Army Family Store where they sorted
donations and organized the store front.
“It’s a huge responsibility to run a store like this but volunteers help
us get things done and keep the costs down so we can donate
the proceeds to people who need it in our community,” said the
store’s Operations Manager Leslie Jones. “We enjoy having (CIU
students) come volunteer.”
Also during the semester, two community impact teams of
Intercultural Studies majors partnered with existing ministries to
bless refugees living in two apartment complexes not far from
campus.
Senior Emma Grace Ballentine recounted how as she was being
served a meal by her Malaysian hostess at the apartments, she
sensed something was wrong.
“She was burning her hands (by) using a towel as she was serving
us food,” said Ballentine.
Ballentine realized the refugee was still getting settled in America
— and gave her some potholders.
“In the little day-to-day things (the refugees) see Christ through
you,” Ballentine added.
Impacting the nations beginning in Columbia
Above: Trash pickup
along Monticello Road
Left: Grocery giveaway
at the bottom of
Monticello Road.
CAMPUS LIFE
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