Kuyper Students Begin School Year by Serving Others

The day after students arrived on the Kuyper College campus to begin their new school year, they fanned out throughout the Grand Rapids area to help others in need. Sixteen student teams spent the day working with ministries such as Shepherd's Independence, the YWCA, Guiding Light Ministries, Bibles for Mission Thrift, God's Kitchen and several others.

According to Cisco Gonzalez, Kuyper's director of student services, there were two main objectives for this day of service. "First," said Gonzalez, "To make our students aware that at Kuyper community is something of great importance, while at the same time helping them, perhaps the first time, to connect to the broader communities of our city." The second objective, according to Gonzalez, was to help students become more cross-culturally sensitive, not just racially, but also socio-economically.

Annie Bronkema, class of 2011 was a member of a student team that ministered at a YWCA's  shelter for victims of domestic violence "Throughout the day we washed woodwork, sorted clothing, swept floors, picked up and took trash out, and reorganized the food pantry, said Bronkema." According to her, as the end of the day neared, students began to realize how much their work had meant to the staff at the shelter. "Even though these everyday odd jobs were so simple to do," said Bronkema, "We had given the staff a break for one day. As we left the shelter, worn out yet exhilarated, we did so having learned that nothing can bring people from all walks of life closer than ministering together"

Was the day of service a success? "All ministries want us back," said Gonzalez. "They were very appreciative of our service. And because Kuyper's spiritual life staff has named October a work-service month, students will soon get another opportunity to volunteer to serve these ministries again."

"I realized," said Bronkema, "That at Kuyper students are actively working to bring God's grace into today's culture. This day of service is only one small glimpse of what God is doing here."