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Developing Whole Leaders for the whole World

20100423_spring_outreach

Spring Outreach

By: Brooke Sherwood

On April 3, approximately 200 ORU students from all across campus came together for one purpose: to serve the local Tulsa community in this semester's Spring Outreach. Students arrived Saturday morning and headed out as a group to the Tulsa Dream center that partnered with ORU for Spring Outreach. Although the event had been publicized weeks prior students began the day by personally inviting those in the surrounding neighborhoods of the dream center to come out for the event.

The event included a variety of things to serve the community such as a health fair which included blood pressure and diabetes screening, women's health, smoking cessation, BMI, safety, nutrition and hygiene. Free lunch was also provided to all who attended. Throughout the day giveaways and job opportunities were available along with workshops regarding things such as budgeting, job retention and educating children. Sources of entertainment including, music concerts, face painting and dance workshops were also held throughout the afternoon.

Students as well as the community had a positive experience from being involved or volunteering with Spring Outreach. Robert Redmond, a freshman at ORU said, "Basically all I had to do was show up with a heart to serve and to love. It's amazing how much of a Christian light we can bring to others in need by just simply playing basketball, giving away food, or taking time to talk to someone." Redmond also said he thought that the workshops were a tremendous help to those who participated in them. Outreach Coordinator Jordan Carter also thought the event was a huge success. "The amount of volunteers that came out to serve was awesome and we could have never done it without them." He said.

The finale of the afternoon was the Easter egg hunt with 8,000 different eggs. It was the largest Easter egg hunt in North Tulsa. "The kids left with smiles on their faces, a full stomach, and a bag full of Easter eggs which to me, means the outreach was well worth it and a tremendous success." Redmond said.

Carter said the Tulsa community was greatly impacted by the event. Over 300 adults and children came to the Dream Center during the outreach. "I think it was incredible," Carter said, "The nursing department was even able to diagnose 25 people with diabetes and approximately 20 people were hired on the spot for jobs. Through the dance performance of Urban Sent and the testimony of Jose Rodriguiz, many people were ministered too who may have been facing hard times."

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