Written by Sarah J Kyle
The Harding community is bustling with preparations for this year’s Bisons for Christ service day.
Students are assembling Wednesday, April 21, to give their time and talents to the Searcy community, with projects ranging anywhere from distributing candy at the local jail to cleaning up tornado damage in Searcy’s neighboring city, Center Hill.
Todd Gentry, who coordinates the event, said Bisons for Christ originally sprang out of a desire for the student body to engage in a collective service effort.
“Today’s students are very interested in living their faith through service,” Gentry said. “Through a joint effort in the name of Christ, more students could experience making a difference.”
That sentiment is echoed is this year’s theme: ONE.
“One purpose, one body, one love,” Gentry said. “On this one day we hope to make a difference. We know that one day is only the beginning [and that] many students continue to serve the people for the rest of the semester.”
While Gentry said he is sure Searcy will be greatly benefited by the day of service, he added that Bisons for Christ is always a positive experience for the students that participate.
“It means that we can come together in the name of Christ and serve our community,” Gentry said. “Personally, it is seeing the growth of students when they give back to the community you live in. For many, it becomes a faith-changing experience.”
Student and Bisons for Christ committee member Emily Sansom said the event gives students an opportunity to step outside of the Harding arena and into the community that surrounds the university.
“What Bisons for Christ means for me is reaching out to the community and expanding beyond the walls of the Harding bubble and showing the love of Christ to others,” Sansom said. “There’s nothing to lose. If you put your heart into it, you’re going to be rewarded. It’s not about getting rewarded, it’s about serving others; but that’s what happens in turn.”
Gentry said he hopes that Bisons for Christ will inspire students to make service a part of their daily lives and faith practice.
“We know that one day of service is only a drop of making a difference,” Gentry said. “Many students through this experience or one like it, go on to do other things. For some, this will be life changing.”
Want to help? Sign up in the student center tomorrow, April 14, or swing by the Rock House.
“”We have lots of projects that need individuals, people that just need yardwork done. You can get a group of friends together, you don’t have to be a club or an organization. [It could be] people in your dorm,” said Melissa Ritchie, who is helping prepare for this year’s event. “Or just sign up individually and we’ll give you someone to contact. There’s a big group going out to Camp Wyldewood to do all kinds of cleanup.”
