Making An Impact For Eternity They go Northeast, North· west, Southeast and Southwest. Some head to the far countries of Germany, Austria, Venezuela. Belgium, Canada and France. Students leave during May, Christmas and spring break. They go to different places at different times. but the main thing is - they go. For a long time Harding University has been known for her campaigns. At times when the average person would just start home for some much needed rest and relaxation, numerous HU faculty members and students year after year pack up vans, planes or cars to travel abroad in campaigns for Christ. The leaders and followers plan, recruit and study for their work in different ways. A myriad of methods are discussed. In fact, many methods have been tried. But no matter the program or the personnel, each Christian committed himself to the people of a certain place and the God of all peoples. Bill and Ava Conley typified the kind of leadership found in 2 Harding's diverse campaign program. The Conley couple has taken campaigners to South and Central America for the last eight years, including five trips to Venezuela. They thrill to the work and the students' response. "In just the last four years nine students have either made definite committments to go back or are now already spending years of service in the Spanish-speaking field," said Mrs. Conley. "This is just one success of the work." In all of the efforts, much time and work was involved. Most groups met at least weekly in predetermined locations. There they listened to ex· perienced men and women in the church in an attempt to grow in Biblical knowledge and become better equipped for their mission. The Northwest Campaigns, for instance. had Will Ed Warren in the fall speak on the topic of "Making Friends for Jesus." Allan Isom followed that up in the spring with a practical lesson on "An Effective VBS." Further preparation included a close scrutiny of the many materials to be used during the days, weeks or months of vaca· tion campaigning. Receiving signatures for a free Bible correspondence course has for years been an excellent tool for May campaigners as well as others. Of course, with the number of students involved, numerous churches must lend support and wisdom. The Downtown congregation sponsored the Northwest work, and the Southeast group was under the direction of the elders at the Sylvan Hills church in North Lit· tle Rock. Outside of their strenuous studying and detailed planning, each group also found time for social events and team get togethers. All agreed that these built a solid rapport which was to come in very handy later. Through it all - the money raising, the language learning and the soul searching - the students found their experiences rewarding. "I'm going back to the Northeast because of changed lives," said Don McLaughlin, a junior from Portland, Ore. "I was able to baptize a couple of fellows and the feeling was tremendous." International campaigner Joy Stevens learned a great deal from her trip to Australia. "We did some doorknocking, paint. ing, singing and babysitting, and I found that the people there are just as receptive as they are here." The primary goal of each campaign was to spread the good news of a good Father. Some, because of the place or culture, centered their endeavors in on the old or the poor. Each work, however, attempted to strengthen the existing church body as well asreach out to the nonchurched of the area. Although statistics of converts and rededications were kept in some cases, the successes reached far beyond these mere numbers. Friends were won. Bridges were built. And souls were saved. Harding students took the message of a cru· cified and resurrected Savior to the world. Matilda Priest, a freshman from Searcy, prepared for her first organized campaign this year. "I want to go to a place and see if I might like to return later on and live," she said. "If I find an area that seems to fit me, I would like to return some day to work for the Lord." Senior Mark Warnick from Hoxie, Ark., worked in Beaverton; Ore_, last summer and said, "Our biggest success was prob· ably with the young people. We attempted to reinforce some moral ideals they may have been missing because of the environment." "The summer helped me more than anything I've ever done. I was thrust into a preaching role that helped me a lot, especially as I look to my future," he added. Another type campaigner also complementary of the Harding atmosphere was the one who formed a group outside of the many usual teams sent out. For various reasons from " methods used to territory covered, these offspring crews made an important impact on their selected city. In past years groups have traveled to places like Chicago and Tabernacle, N.J., to spend the summer in a normal living situation. Once there an effort was made to work with, not for, the local congregation. Jonathon Cloud also drew up a Stepping Out program which located Christian students in metropolitan cities to make their mark for Christ. Lives were touched through work relation· ships and other mediums in this effort. Overall, whether it was through a highly organized campaign or a more informal few days of work, Harding students took the message of a crucified and resurrected Savior to the world. It was and is the hope of the University's administration, staff and student body that each person in every nation hear of God. Perhaps Harding alumnus Landon Saunders put this thought into words best when he wrote, "There are no barriers too great. There are no prob· lems that are too enormous. The only thing that may be lacking now is our wills. Will we do it? I believe frankly, that we will." ~ -Jimmy Allen 1. DR. DON SHACKELFORD points out some helpful hints about what to expect to future campaigners. 2. LISTENING intently to a presentation given at one of the n;gular Wednes. day night campaign meetings is Robert Swain and Martin Owens. Bible·77
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