Angle

Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: On Campus

Media Credit: Leigh Chamberlain Joy Club Participants

Jesse Yancoskie

Colleen Carl

Ask any Clearwater Christian College student about his or her plans for Wednesday night. Chances are, you'll hear the reply, "I've got my Christian Service."

Every Wednesday evening, a stirring of activity occurs when students scurry off the campus to serve in ministry opportunities in the area.

Known as "Christian Service" on the campus, students tutor at a children's home in Tampa or sing and preach at nursing homes or serve in different church children's ministries.

While some of the activities take place on Tuesday or Thursday evenings, the majority take place on Wednesdays, giving a much-needed break in the monotony of the students' everyday routines.

Joy Club, one student-led activity, ministers to children. CCC students head to different areas in Clearwater, gathering children for an hour of songs, games, and a Bible story.

The children become so accustomed to seeing their weekly friends that often they will already be gathered in the common meeting area, waiting for the college students to arrive.

Jesse Yancoskie, a senior from Florida, has participated in Joy Club every year he's been at CCC. Jesse said, "The kids really look forward to seeing us, and because a lot of them come from difficult situations, they may look to us as older brothers or sisters, or even parents. Joy Club is the highlight of my week."

Another ministry, Young Life, allows Clearwater students the opportunity to become involved in the lives of local high school students.

"I wanted to build relationships with teenagers," said music major Colleen Carl. "Young Life allows me to do that. We get together with the kids at their high schools and just talk, getting to know them. We invite them to our club meetings, where we share the Gospel and just have a good time with the teens."

When students return to campus from their ministries, they're often laughing and seem to have more energy than they had before they left. By allowing local residents to see the love of God, students, who are giving themselves for that time to their area of ministry, realize that it is, as the Bible says, "more blessed to give than to receive."

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