On March 29, Southwestern Adventist University students, faculty, and staff spent an afternoon serving the community through the university's Ignite Service Day. During the event, around 250 students contributed a combined 1,500 hours of service at 18 locations across Johnson County. 

"I love having the opportunity to take time out of a day to go and work alongside others as we serve the community,” said Kayla, Assistant Chaplain for Missions. “Seeing hundreds of fellow students blessing others while receiving a blessing themselves was truly a God moment.”

Thanks to the abundance of service organizations close to the university, students had the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of ways. 

Leobaldo, a freshman theology student, served at the New Life Bible School. There, his group packaged nearly 200 Bible lesson care packages for prisoners. He shared that “working alongside community members who minister to prisoners day-in and day-out was a humbling experience.  These individuals reflected the character and passion of Jesus so beautifully.”

Nwanyimole, a junior business student spent her afternoon with members of the University Singers at Town Hall Estates in Keene. After cleaning wheelchairs, the choir sang and visited with the residents.  Nwanyimole shared that “seeing how happy the residents were when they were able to sit in just-cleaned wheelchairs and sing with us during a student-led worship service later that afternoon was a blessing.”

In addition to its annual service day, Southwestern Adventist University provides plenty of other opportunities to give back to the community and world. From spring break mission trips to year-long international student missionary experiences and from daily Bible studies to monthly outreach projects, Southwestern Adventist University's mission of inspiring knowledge, faith, and service through Christ-centered education is regularly portrayed by faculty, staff and students.

“We are dedicated to affording our students an opportunity to be global members of society who consider excellence and the welfare of humanity their top priority,” said Russ Laughlin, Vice President for Spiritual Development.

For more information about how Southwestern Adventist University, visit www.swau.edu. To view a collection of photos from the event, visit www.flickr.com/southwesternadventist.