Throughout the school year, each academic school at BJU has been given the opportunity to host their own chapel service. The SOEHS met together three times during the fall semester for a time to worship the Lord, build community within our division, and hear how God can use education and human services to impact our communities, nation, and world for Christ. This semester, we selected a theme of “Service-Minded Faith” focusing specifically on the biblical descriptions of how truth faith behaves as described in Romans 12:9-11. As a school, we collectively rehearsed these verses at the beginning of our time together and challenged each other to grow in our good works as an expression of our faith.
Our first time together was situated right in the middle of the university’s REACH Week, so the service was themed around the idea of how education and human services can be used internationally. We sang, read Scripture together, and heard testimonies of what God is doing around the world. First, junior Social Studies Education major Becca Benson shared about her experience serving in Guam this past summer. Then, we got to hear about how God is using 2013 Early Childhood Education graduate Brooke Illsley in Cambodia. Brooke shared about how she works alongside another missionary family with the homeschooling of their children. In addition, she serves as an educational resource for other missionary families in the area. She is passionate about helping educators use their skills in global missions.
Our second chapel took place on a cool October morning. In conjunction with our theme, our students were able to serve first graders (and their teachers) at Bob Jones Academy. Blankets covered the playground area at the Early Learning Center while future educators paired with young students to read to them. Lead teacher Katie Klipp shared that the students had been eagerly anticipating this event all week, but the students were not the only ones who enjoyed the exercise. “It was fun. I really enjoyed it,” said English Education major Sam Wang, who expressed the sentiments of several SOEHS students. In between the two ten-minute reading sessions, students were given a brief time of recess where they could get some energy out. Freshmen Brenna Binkley and Jasani Yard were among some of our students who played tag with the first graders. Laughter filled the air.
However, this service chapel also proved to provide an experiential learning experience to our students as well. Mathematics Education major Josie Santopietro observed the value in letting students talk and listening to what they have to say. Meanwhile, Middle School Education major Elijah Cropsey had to put into practice the important teacher skill of pivoting when it appears that a student is losing interest in order to maximize engagement. In the end, our school was provided with an opportunity to put love into action by using their skills as future educators to zealously serve the Lord by serving these students and their teachers.
Our third and final school chapel of the semester took place on a cold, rainy day in November. Nevertheless, our hearts were warmed from hearing a testimony from Educational Studies major, Karina Castellanos Perdomo. An international student, she shared how God provided for her during a time of waiting and delays on receiving her visa. She reminded her fellow students that just because God has called a person to do a task does not mean that it will be easy. However, God will provide the strength and grace needed as that person totally surrenders to His will.
We ended this last chapel with a word from Muriel Taylor, Director of Volunteers and Community Engagement for Greenville County’s Meals on Wheels program. Taylor noted the tremendous impact this ministry has on our local community and shared ways that our students can get involved in preparing and providing meals and encouragement to needy people in the area. We ended our chapel with a time for students to write Christmas cards to Meals on Wheels recipients.
Each one of our chapel services highlighted a different way that our students can use the skills they are developing right now to live out their faith and serve other people. From future classrooms to local community resources to missions endeavors around the world, education and human services can serve as powerful vehicles yielding Gospel opportunities with people who fall into the circle of influence of our students. It is our desire that our students take the skills they learn here at BJU and go forth on mission to make a difference for Christ and His kingdom.