Ministry of Quiet Encouragement Exemplifies Christianity "If you want to catch someone's attention, whisper," an old cliche, true , but an inspiring ministry on Harding's campus is based on an idea much like it. The Campus Ministry, led by Dwight and Barby Smith, believes and is founded on the idea of "quiet encouragement." "The whole approach of our ministry is not to make a big show. We really feel that this idea of quiet encouragement, not showy or ostentatious, is the way Christ would have us minister," Dwight stated. The program , which began in July, 1981, has grown to include a volunteer student team of over 250. The first semester the Campus Ministry team formed, it consisted only of eight students.Barby attributes this incredible growth to one-on-one relationships. "We have never advertised , not even just the fact there is a campus ministry team. We try to involve as many people as we can in ministering to one another," she explains. "We try especially to encourage the leaders on campus to lead others to a closer relationship with God and one another." She felt the success of the program and the team's growth resultedfrom a natural desire to encourage and be encouraged. Dwight also felt the groups nature, non-selective, unclosed membership, allowed all involved to feel very at ease and welcome. The team which meets once each month is only the foundation for the work of the Campus Ministry. This group aids the Smith's in their work with the University. Five main projects demand much of their time: foreign student events, freshman-transfer events, the Adopt-a-StudentiFamily program, prayer meetings and devotionals in the dorms and apartments, and inter-club dinners. The foreign student events include monthly parties ranging from international dinners to gym-days. The Smiths also hold a Christmas party for those students away from their mother country. Throughout the year the students have opportunities to share with one another and others the culture of their homeland. These events are also designed to acquaint the students with one another and ease the burden of being so far from frineds and family. For many of the same reasons, the Smiths also work closely with freshmen and transfer students. Early in the summer each member of the campus ministry team receives the names and addresses of four or five new students enrolled for the fall semester. The team members then correspond with these students and by so doing acqaint them with Harding and what to expect while attending school. When the student arrives in September, a Harding friendship has alreadv been established. The Smith's co-sponsor the Adopt-a-StudentiFamily program with the College church of Christ. This program allows Harding students to interact with families in ::;earcy and vice-versa. For many this helps ease homesickness, for others it simply provides a close relationship with another family group while separated from relatives. One of the most important aspects of the Campus Ministry work includes the prayer meetings and devotionals which it supports and encourages . These usually meet after curfew and allow the men and women to gather separately in smaller groups than the allschool devotionals and meetings. Topics at the devotionals range from dating to friendships to confidence. At the prayer meetings time is set aside to pray for individual needs and problems. These events come to hold a very special place in the hearts of those who participate. The inter-club dinners which began in 1983-84 as an experiment continued in 1984-85 and seemed to be setting a tradition. The dinners were held at the Smith's home each Sunday evening after late worship services. At the beginning of the year each men's and women's club was drawn at random and two clubs who were not brother-Vsister clubs were invited to dinner on one of the Sunday nights. This idea became increasingly popular with the students and the Smiths decided to continue them . "Often campus suddenly shrinks to that comfortable group or club and you stop reaching out," Barby explains. The dinners, she said, helped the students to reach out without feeling awkward. In 1983-84 the Smiths welcomed over 1,000 students in their home through this program. Dwight and Barby Smith met at Harding, became engaged in a swing, were married at the College Church of Christ building, and experienced the birth of their first child in Searcy at Hawkins Clinic. Their relationshop with Harding continued as all of their children attended classes here and eventually they too returned from New Jersey to minister to Harding's students and faculty. It is a relationship with a definite beginning point but without an ending. il'iii:. - Karen Roseberry 32 Campus Ministry "The Balanced Woman." Barby Smith also spoke in the 61st Annual Bible Lectureship along with her duties at the Campus Ministry house. She lectured on "The Balanced Woman" during three consecutive lessons for women. - photo by Wes Holland. From the Lily Pool to the lobby. Tim Gentry, a junior from Alabama, speaks at a Thursday night devotional which is one of the many programs the Smith's and their Campus Ministry team encourages and supports. - photo by Wes Holland.
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