Searcy mayor David Morris said he does not think of Searcy as a typical college town, in the sense that the town revolves around the university’s every need. He said he believes Harding plays a significant but healthy role in the community, creating a positive and mutually beneficial relationship between students and the wider community.
Morris said one of the major reasons he sees for this positive relationship is student involvement in local churches. Dan Williams, Harding’s vice president for church relations, said part of his job is to help students get plugged into area churches. For example, Williams said his office sponsors the “Ministry Fair” that takes place at the beginning of each fall semester and gives churches an opportunity to make students aware of their ministries and worship assemblies.
Williams said one of the biggest ways most students are influenced by the Searcy community is through involvement in local churches.
“Our students and faculty are influenced by area churches to the extent that they get involved with a local congregation,” Williams said. “Looking back on my own experience in a Christian college, I cherish the memories made and am grateful for the gifts developed through my involvement with a church family. When alumni come back to Harding to visit, they often cite their participation in a local church here as being one of the transforming influences of their college experience.”
Likewise, Chancellor David Burks said students should look for ways to be involved in local congregations as well as in other parts of the community. He said students will only get to know the community if they take an interest in the community.
“I think students should feel welcomed by the community, and to the extent that they get to know the community, I think they’ll feel better about the community,” Burks said. “I think they can get involved in different ways with the recreation programs, with the teaching programs, help with the parks and take advantage of different activities that are presented. There are lots of them out there, and they need to take advantage of these opportunities. I think when they do, they will feel better about the community in which they live. If they are gone all the time and never spend any time in the community, they aren’t going to get to know the community.”
Taryn Sheets, the executive director of Searcy Children’s Homes, said she appreciates students who give up time to get involved with community organizations like hers. When students get involved, she said, it can be beneficial for everyone.
“We are blessed with the opportunity to work with (volunteers and) interns through the psychology and social work departments at Harding,” Sheets said. “We are able to give students an up-close, hands-on experience in child welfare, foster care and adoption and child development as they spend time with our families, interact with our children in care and are mentored by our professional staff. We hope that the service we provide to these exceptional students is as beneficial to them as they are to this ministry.”
