by Madi Cannon, Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University students have returned from their relief mission to Houston’s Fifth Ward. But their efforts continue to reverberate in one of Houston’s largest underprivileged areas.
Cedarville’s team of 30 students partnered with Northeast Houston Baptist Church at Farrington Mission, a community center in the Fifth Ward.
“Working with a local church in Houston allowed us to intentionally live out the gospel in practical ways,” said Keith Holcomb, assistant director for global outreach. “Farrington Mission has provided the church with the ability to have a voice for the gospel to many who may not step into a church building.”
Students rebuilt damaged areas of the Farrington Mission distribution center and cleaned out debris from neighborhood homes affected by the flooding. They also strengthened the center’s ongoing ministries by distributing clothing, food and supplies to community members.
Many of Houston’s Fifth Ward residents continue to suffer from the hurricane long after the news crews left the area, explained David Daugherty, a sophomore marketing and global business major from Grand Prairie, Texas, who served with Cedarville’s team.
“The people in the community were very willing to pray with us because of the devastation of the hurricane,” said Shannon Swicker, a senior environmental science major from Canton, Michigan. “It was cool to see God use a broken situation for His glory.”
Cedarville also established a relief fund to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. The fund covered the costs for students to participate in the trip and finance other hurricane relief efforts.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.