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Rallying the Troops
Students and staff share vision for this year's Community Outreach program
By Rachel Wegner 07
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"We all have the chance to influence someone else," Taylor said. "The values we establish in our lives now will be the foundation that we build the rest of our lives upon. May we live our lives in such a way that in everything we do we glorify our Father in heaven and that the people around us may be saved."
Taylor shared that the theme for Community Outreach this year is, "For the glory of God, so others may live." He challenged the students to make this their life statement and to make outreach part of who they are. Several students gave their testimonies of outreach experiences after Taylor finished.
Junior Erin Barnett spoke from her perspective as team leader for Hope for the Homeless. Barnett said she keeps going back week after week because of a woman she befriended named Barbara. Over the course of the past year, Barnett has shared the unconditional love of God with Barbara.
"That's what ORU Community Outreach is about--giving a name to those hurting in our community that have nobody else to reach out to them. If you're not there to show them who cares about them, who will?"
On the schedule for 2007-08
Two new outreaches have been added to the Community Outreach lineup. The South Peoria Neighborhood House is a community center located near 61st and Peoria in Tulsa. ORU students will mentor and tutor children from apartment complexes around the area at the house. The Highway outreach is back after a one-year absence. It involves a drama team that performs at local churches and youth groups and also in conjunction with other outreaches.
A total of 18 teams will go into the Tulsa community on a weekly or biweekly basis. These teams include: Alternative Coffee House, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Children's Medical Outreach, Highway, Kids for Christ, Lloyd Rader, South Peoria Neighborhood Home, Tulsa Hope Academy, Adopt-a-Block, Adopt-a-Grandparent, Comanche Park, Greater Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Hope for the Homeless, Grace Hospice, International Connection, "Jesus Loves You" Sign Ministry, and Warriors for Christ.
ORU students will return to New Orleans over fall break, Oct. 13-19, to help rebuild structures on the Gulf Coast. For the past two years, ORU has been involved in clean-up and gutting in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. According to Scott Davis, Community Outreach coordinator, about 50 students will be involved in this trip.
The annual Fall Outreach is scheduled for Oct. 31. Hundreds of ORU students will fan out across Tulsa to collect canned foods and nonperishable goods for the less fortunate in their community. They will go door-to-door in Tulsa neighborhoods, also offering to pray with homeowners as they see opportunity. Plans for the annual Spring Outreach are in the works and will include a day dedicated to service in the Tulsa community.
2006-07 Community Outreach Statistics
Last year, the Community Outreach office logged some impressive statistics. Here they are, in condensed form:
9,600 cans of food were collected for needy people during Fall Outreach 2006
7,100 total hours were worked
1,375 students were involved in outreach activities
600 people were prayed for and 30 salvations were celebrated
176 students donated blood, resulting in 543 lives saved
150 students were involved in weekly outreaches
75 kids were mentored
20 consistent outreach sites were established with teams that returned weekly or biweekly
20 buildings were gutted in New Orleans on the Fall Break 2006 missions trip
Good job!
