It's About Servanthood

Penn State Navigators spend Spring Break serving the inner city.

When Navigators Dave and Cathy Bowman reported for duty at Penn State University in 1995, about 13 students attended their weekly meetings. Recently, just 13 years later, 134 Navigator students and staff in 33 cars drove a total of 76,000 miles round-trip from Penn State to Orlando for their annual Spring Break service outreach. “We’ve had more than 100 students go on the Spring Break trip for several years,” says Dave, who attributes the growth to God’s favor and student initiative, “but this year was the biggest. We had only two flat tires and only two students got sick, each for just a few hours. God’s grace was incredible!”

Upon arrival in the Sunshine State, the students quickly got to work, volunteering for three local ministries and the Orlando Housing Authority. Service projects included government housing repairs, landscaping, tutoring and playing basketball with inner city kids, and buying meals for the homeless community. “The students loved what we did,” says Bowman. “It was an opportunity to learn to serve. Trips like this also encourage character-building and help give students a new sense of priorities. They get to experience working in teams and develop a heart for people. Some end up going back to work in the inner city on their own or get involved in other short-term missions.”

One group of Penn State Navigators volunteered at Frontline Outreach, a west side ministry that provides education and leadership programs for urban youth. The students worked with children of all ages, from preschool to high school, from playing basketball to teaching young teens how to write a resume. Sophomore Meghan Hoover was especially touched by her time with a couple of Christian high school girls. “We talked about their struggles and career goals,” says Hoover. “I was challenged to see their passion [for Christ] in the midst of hard circumstances.”

Architectural Engineering major Dan Saxton spent the week doing home repair and maintenance in low-income neighborhoods for the Orlando Housing Authority. “It was a joy to help people do things that would be a monumental task for them [alone],” says Saxton, “especially in the housing communities whose residents were much older.”

Staying at a large church in the heart of downtown Orlando, the Navigator students also were able to come in contact with the homeless community. “We gave them food and clothing. We shared the Gospel with several homeless men for quite a while as we walked them to a shelter and paid for their night there,” says Bowman. “That was really encouraging.”

Daily Bible studies on servanthood and evening guest speakers reiterated the week’s emphasis. “We learned the importance of serving others and having the attitude of Christ,” says Junior Engineering Science major Mike Anderson. “It also provided an opportunity to relate to a diverse group of people. So much of what Christ teaches is about serving the poor. It’s good to get away from your comfort zone.”

A highlight for the entire group came Friday night, when one Penn State student gave her life to Christ and others engaged in a time of repentance and thanksgiving. “It was amazing to see other students come to know Christ more and experience brokenness,” says Hoover. “Now I feel convicted to pray for other people more.”

Back in their academic world of studying for exams and meeting with friends, the hearts of 130 Penn State Navigators still linger in downtown Orlando. “We talk about going back all the time,” says Hoover. When asked if she would recommend such a trip to others, she says, “Just go! It’s beyond amazing. It’s hard and challenging, but God won’t give you anything you can’t handle. You would never regret going.”

Saxton agrees, “It’s simply a great opportunity. You’re surrounded by people who also love God . . . and together you spread that love to anyone and everyone. That’s God’s will.”