A Georgia Baptist Institution
A Christmas to Remember
For 12 members of the Shorter College community, Christmas break was a time to serve – not as Santa’s little helpers but as the hands and feet of Christ. The group, led by Campus Minister David Roland, included students from Shorter’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries organization. They took part in a biennial Christmas mission trip to the Rev. Roland’s home church near Cincinnati, Ohio. Parker Aziz, a freshman from Ringgold, found the mission project to be a refreshing reminder of God’s goodness. “Sometimes class schedules and campus responsibilities make you so busy that your priorities get blurred. I wanted to go on this mission trip to see God and not lose sight of Him in my everyday busyness.” |
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The group did just that as they volunteered their time and energy to Southside Baptist Church in Covington, Ky. By leading worship, delivering presents to the needy and repairing a pastor’s house, the team served the church and the community; working alongside the Shorter team were Southside church members.
“The project leader at Southside was grateful for our help,” said Parker, “but she did not want us to do it all. She said, ‘It makes my job easier for you to be here, but we will work with you because it is important for our congregation to still understand what it means to serve.’”
Their work required this assistance because the annual Christmas gift giveaway was requested by 120 neighborhood families. “Nearby dry cleaners donated unclaimed coats for Southside to distribute because folks would suggest, ‘Give them to Southside because they help everybody,’” explained Parker. In helping the community, Southside Baptist also asked Shorter students to work with the children’s ministry activities. “During children’s church we had a blast,” recalled Parker. “At first the kids were really shy, but Erin [Miller] was a quick thinker. Because the kids were holding back, she pulled out a red marker and let each of them color her nose while we sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Immediately, the children opened up.” |
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One little boy stood out in Parker’s mind. “I’ve never been the best with kids, but there was one 5-year-old with glasses. He had a speech impediment that caught my interest because I had one as a child. While we colored together, he scribbled over the paper, but explained that he had drawn Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. No one was able to understand the drawing until he explained it; no one saw it like he did. I think our faith and spiritual walk are very similar to his drawing. We can’t judge where others are, but we can be open to listen and then understand. Every scribble is unique, and that is okay.”
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