Bisons for Christ, an annual day of service on which Harding students serve in and beyond the Searcy, Arkansas, community, will be held Wednesday, April 13. This year’s event revolves around Isaiah 6:8, “Here am I, send me.”
Approximately 2,500 students participated in 180 projects in the community on the day of the event last year, according to junior Truett Keener, member of the Bisons for Christ projects committee. The event is coordinated by more than 50 students and interns from Rock House Outreach Ministries.
Seven students committees work to coordinate Bisons for Christ, including the projects, involvement and advertising committees. Each committee is set with specific tasks and goals for students to complete, including creating advertising plans and deciding the theme.
According to senior Michaela Isenberg, member of the projects committee, the committees have met at least every other week this spring semester to plan ways to make Bisons for Christ as successful as possible.
The projects committee seeks out community residents, churches and organizations for students to serve. According to Keener, projects completed during Bisons for Christ can include raking leaves, visiting people in the hospital or retirement home, or building a house in the community.
According to senior Aundrey Flewellen, the advertising team works through social media, posters and announcements in chapel to give students the chance to hear as much as possible about the event.
Junior Rachel Henderson, a member of the involvement committee, said the leadership reaches out to students who may not have a specific club, organization or sports team to participate with.
“We are in the process of putting the sign-up form on Pipeline, but meanwhile everyone that is interested and wants to lead a group, or simply help in a group, should listen for some chapel announcements coming soon as well as an informative booth in the student center,” Keener said.
According to Keener, Bisons for Christ will use a new app to simplify signing up for projects. The app is in the process of being completed, and members of Bisons for Christ committees are hopeful it will run smoothly. Students will be able to create groups on the app, and claim different projects listed.
“Bisons for Christ is such a unique and special day to the Harding community,” Isenberg said. “Nothing helps you receive more than the act of giving.”
