Sweating. Teaching. Praying. Playing. What do all of these have in common? They're just a few things Christian college students experience while ministering through service projects. No doubt about it, community service is a major part of life at many Christian colleges-that means it could be a major part of your college experience!

To get a feel for the wide variety of service opportunities available to you, we talked to four students about their own exciting experiences. But don't stop with these four! As you research schools and visit campuses, talk to students about volunteer opportunities available on their campuses.

Allison Youngren knows how fun it can be to serve others. She participated in a ministry at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, that let her eat pizza in the park, go on hayrides, throw roller-skating parties and attend basketball games. The Pals ministry pairs college students (the "big pals") with kids, ages 5 to 12 (the "little pals"). Besides making sure the kids have fun, Allison and the other big pals tried to provide the love and stability many of the kids don't have at home.

Allison joined the Pals ministry during her freshman year at Bryan. That's where she met her little pal, 8-year-old Anay. After struggling a full year to gain Anay's trust, Allison finally broke though. The result: "We're like sisters," says Allison. Even though Allison graduated from Bryan in May, the two pals still keep in touch.

The Pals ministry is a lot of fun, but it's not without its challenges. "There were definitely times when I just felt like it was a burden," Allison says. "It's like, 'Oh, I have to get this done so I can check it off my to-do list.'" But Allison says spending time with her little pal was always worthwhile. "I got Anay to open up and talk about her family, or we'd have a conversation about spiritual things. I'd teach her little things. And when I'd drop her off, I'd think to myself, This is the reason why I'm doing this."

With all the demands of college life, finding time presents a challenge for all the big pals. But Allison says the time she set aside each week has taught her about selflessness.

"I realized how much it means to invest in someone's life," she says. "I've always had people who invested in my life—when I was younger and even now—and I know how much of an impact that had on me. You gain a lot from using your time and talent for someone other than just yourself."

When Allie Long came to Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, she was thrilled to discover the school offered an inner-city ministry called Mentor Moms. For the last three years, Allie has traveled to a mission house in downtown Marion, Indiana, to spend time with single mothers and their children. Most of the moms are teenagers struggling with financial troubles and unstable family situations.

"The ministry is focused on sharing the love of Christ with these mothers and their children—meeting physical and spiritual needs," says Allie, who wants to teach at an elementary school after graduating from college.

The moms earn "mommy dollars" by helping with chores around the mission house, which they can use in the mission store to buy items like diapers, toys and clothes. Though Allie enjoys a close friendship with one of the young moms, she finds the most joy hanging out with the kids. "I love children, and I have a passion for inner-city kids—that's where I want to teach," she says.

After Allie's freshman year, the Mentor Moms director asked her to take charge of childcare during the weekly meetings for Taylor students and the moms. Previously, childcare simply meant babysitting. But Allie decided to incorporate a Bible lesson and organized activities. "It's hard because of the kids' background. They're not used to structured activity," she says. "I've learned how to be a better leader because when you're placed in a leadership position you have to take control. You have to be more teacher-ish. So I'm learning how to be a better teacher: Although I can be loving, I have to be very firm."

Allie says the Mentor Moms ministry is teaching her more about God's love. "When I see the kids playing together and when I play with them, I catch a tiny little glimpse of how God smiles on us and how he loves on us," she says.

But all that love can be painful, too. "A lot of the kids come in with bruises, and that kills me every time," Allie says. "All kinds of abuse has happened to the kids, so that's why I know it's so important to love them as much as possible and pray for them. I can't live in their homes—all I can do show them love during those few hours."

Nathan Venton came to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, planning to pursue a Bible major with a missions emphasis. So he signed up for lots of missions and ministry courses. As much as he enjoyed those classes, he soon found out he'd learn his biggest lessons out on the streets.

During his freshman year, Nathan joined Cornerstone's World Outreach Committee, which organizes activities like helping at homeless shelters, working with a prison ministry, and sending care packages to orphanages.

"I've been through a lot of mission classes and read the books, but I've really grown a lot in knowing what to expect on a mission field," Nathan says. "I guess I had it idealized in my mind, but now I see this is going to be a little harder than I thought."

But Nathan is grateful for the reality check. "It's really helped me prepare for missions, not only with leadership, but also just getting out of my comfort zone," he says. "I was really shy when I came here, but now I'm able to interact with people—my communication skills and my people skills have increased."

Nathan says his prayer time also has improved since he joined the committee. Praying out loud in groups took some getting used to, but Nathan says now he enjoys praying with other Christians. His involvement in various ministry projects also led to some great new friendships. "Getting out and serving other people does something to you that sitting in your room playing video games won't," he says. "From just hanging out with people and serving with them, you develop relationships with them. I've gained so many friends through this."

Nathan became chairman of the committee his junior year, and since then he's been leading weekend trips to Chicago to work with that city's homeless. He says the toughest part about the trips is seeing all the sin and sadness in the city. "The drugs, the prostitution-it just rips your heart out. I just want to go in there and fix it all, and that's not possible," he says. "I guess that's why I'm going into missions. I can't change the whole world, but I can be faithful with what God does give me and do what part I can, ya know?"

Ever wonder how St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland? Last year Steve Millslagle and a dozen other students from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, found out. The team arrived in Northern Ireland for a Spring Break mission trip on St. Patty's Day-and they used the Irish celebrations as a ministry opportunity. The American students strolled around the town where St. Patrick is buried and asked partying locals about the myths and legends surrounding the holiday.

"It was cool how our questions opened up a lot of conversations-about the cultural differences between Northern Ireland and the U.S., family relationships, and even religion. It was a good way to get immersed in culture," Steve says.

The team then joined a local church in ministering to street kids. They hosted a Vacation Bible School for younger children and a soccer and coffee bar ministry for teens. Steve already knew many of the kids. He'd gone to Northern Ireland for Spring Break the year before and spent the previous summer living there and working with the same church. He says after two years he was beginning to feel frustrated. "No one had become a believer, there were no change in behavior-nothing." But on that third trip, one of the teens accepted Christ. "It was encouraging to see these seeds we planted are finally blossoming," Steve says. "We're doing the first part of the work, but the work doesn't end when we go home."

Even though Steve loves to travel, he says the most important service isn't as obvious as a mission trip across the globe. "So much service is done every day, and it's not glorified or highlighted. Service isn't about being in a leadership position or going overseas. Service is about meeting the immediate needs of those around you, whether it's your college roommate or the janitor in your dorm."

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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