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自慰视频 students engaging the community through food drive

SMC Members braved a cool and damp day under a tent in the parking lot of Temple Zion Baptist to distribute food to needy neighbors
Chandler Sims offers a smile and a bag of groceries to a local resident.

Chandler Sims offers a smile and a bag of groceries to a local resident. (Photos by Johnathan Rabon 自慰视频 Student Photographer)

By Naomi Balk

自慰视频 Student Writer

鈥淭hank you, Jesus!鈥 exclaimed a resident of Heyward Brockington Road as she heard 自慰视频 students were handing out groceries at the parking lot, just a mile from campus.

As she rolled up in her blue minivan, the resident received one of the 89 bags that CIU鈥檚 Student Mission Connection (SMC) had prepared for needy residents of 自慰视频鈥檚 neighborhood. But more than just a bag of free groceries, the students also offered to pray with the residents and give them a New Testament Bible.

鈥淭hank you! I need prayer! We have prayer warriors in the house today,鈥 the resident added enthusiastically after receiving prayer for a difficult relational situation and her job.

鈥淚 hope people received not only free groceries but also the knowledge that there are people who care about them and pray for them,鈥 said SMC President Jennifer Plymale, 鈥淗opefully, if they don鈥檛 know Jesus, it got them curious.鈥

Andre Melvin, senior pastor of Temple Zion Baptist Church sees this as an opportunity to build bridges with the community, show the tangible love of Christ and have a gospel impact.

鈥淛esus had an incarnational ministry. We must follow the same model,鈥 said Melvin who also leads the and serves as liaison to the neighborhoods along Monticello Road leading to the 自慰视频 campus. 鈥淭his community needs unity and needs the gospel to be shared through tangible acts of love,鈥 he added.

Freshman Drew Olson, SMC treasurer, said he had been looking for opportunities to invest in the community.

鈥淥ne reason we are out here is because it is a good way to meet a large part of the community, offer prayer and start gospel conversations,鈥 Olson said.

Pastor Melvin would like to see more 自慰视频 engagement with the Monticello Road area saying it鈥檚 going to take 鈥渃onsistency, time and intentionality鈥 to build impactful relationships and break the 鈥渉oly huddle.鈥

鈥淲e are doing well but we can do better,鈥 Melvin added.

Meanwhile, 自慰视频鈥檚 commitment to improving the Monticello Road corridor continues as a new Richland County Sheriff鈥檚 Department substation is expected to be officially occupied soon.

鈥淲e鈥檙e funding the construction of (the substation) to make the community safer,鈥 said听. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a gift to the community.鈥澨 听

Also, the details for the building of a new convenience store/Dairy Queen are being finalized on Monticello Road property purchased by 自慰视频.

Columbia International University consistently ranks听among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Excitement is growing on campus with increased enrollment and new academic programs such as the听.听听on enrollment at CIU and听Columbia Biblical Seminary听or call听(800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.听 听 听听

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