Inspire, Summer 2001

Called to Mercy Photo Credit D.McCoy 111.11111111111111111111 -41111#0ig,. "af47 Jenny Elliott of the Society of Women Engineers surveys their canned food drive results. W e have all heard the call. It comes from God's Word (Matthew 25:35-46), the pulpit, and even TV ads ... feed the hungry, clothe the needy, aid the homeless. At Cedarville University, student groups worked in a myriad of ways to answer the call. During Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (February 4-10), University organizations made a wealth of outreaches as they heeded the call for selfless giving. The Society of Women Engineers chose a canned food drive for the Salvation Army in Springfield, Ohio, as their vehicle for mercy. Epsilon Alpha Pi (Social Work Club) held a coin drive for Good Works, Inc., a Christian-run homeless shelter in Athens, Ohio. Alpha Delta Omega and Delta Omega Epsilon, social service organizations, canvassed the residence halls and came out with more than 30 bags of clothing for Dayton area needy. Alpha Chi, a men's service organization, spent a day working at the Dayton Gospel Mission. The campus organization for Christian health professionals, Chi Theta Pi, assisted the American Red Cross in Xenia, Ohio, by collecting toiletries like soap and toothpaste. The very next month, Cedarville University students raised money for the world's needy by participating in World Vision's annual 30-Hour Famine. For 30 hours, the participants ingested only water and fruit juice to help raise awareness of and funds for the world's hungry. A 7 1/2 hour lock-in gave participants a special time of praise and worship, prayer, and sharing information on specific needy people groups and countries. Participants asked family, friends, and neighbors to sponsor them with pledges during the fast. The funds raised went towards World Vision's emergency relief efforts and long-term development projects. Participants also held a canned food drive for a food pantry in the village of Cedarville, and students 8 Summer 2001 went door-to-door collecting non-perishable foods and canned goods. The events were co-sponsored on campus by the honors organization Tau Delta Kappa (TDK) and the social work organization Epsilon Alpha Pi. Yet another social service activity came in Winter Quarter. For one week, a traveling exhibit called Silent Witness stood in the lobby of the Stevens Student Center. Each wooden figure, painted red, wore a small plaque telling the true story of how a man, woman, or child had lost his or her life as a result of domestic violence. The silhouettes were just one part of a social work class project to increase campus awareness of domestic violence. Called Voices for Hope, the project was orchestrated by six social work majors with a passion for making a difference. As part of their effort, Voices gathered professionals from Greene County Domestic Violence Shelter and Project Woman to form a campus discussion panel about domestic violence and abusive dating relationships. In addition, a Christian survivor of domestic violence shared her story, and Cedarville Assistant Professor of Bible Jeffrey Cook explained how Christians can biblically approach the issue of domestic violence. "Many Christians don't recognize unhealthy relationships which occur within the Christian community," shared Voices member Sherri DeWitt."Through the discussion panel, people learned how to help others who are in unhealthy relationships. We like to think of it as helping future church members know how to help others in the body of Christ." Voices also held a prayer vigil called "Break the Silence," where attendees learned that domestic violence is defined as "handling relationship conflicts through power and control rather than healthy problem-solving methods." Voices member Haley Miller concluded,"I hope that this class project will impact students to serve at the Greene County Domestic Violence Shelter or help in the healing of those who have been abused. I would love to see our future church leaders recognize the urgency of the issue and realize how influential they could be in bringing healing and restoration to violent homes within and without the body of Christ." Cedarville University students Haley Miller and Sherri DeWitt donned purple ribbons in an effort to raise domestic violence awareness as part of the campus Voices for Hope project.