Campus Ministry - students make special friends "A lot of people come back from campaigns with neat stories to tell , but the Friends Program takes place close to home--you can see the results all the time ," said Hal Baker, a senior from South Bend, Indiana. Harding University 's Friends Program provided children of Searcy with "big brothers and sisters" who took an active role in their lives. "We go to football games and movies. We do homework together, " said Hal. Besides the one on one activities , Harding students also organized a Christmas party and a spring cookout for the kids. The Searcy HousingAuthority sent a list of names to Campus Ministry, and area churches and schools also submitted names of children they felt would benefit from the program. But the young children were not the only ones who gained from their involvement with "Friends. " "Getting to see a change in my "little brother" has been the neatest thing for me ," said Hal. " The program gives you the chance to affect these kids ' lives in a pos1t1ve way. They are used to seeing destruction and other kids who don't care . It makes such a difference to theµi when they have someone who really cares about them. " 7 6 Organizations Michele VanRheenen , a sophomore from Thousand Oaks , California, was involved in the program for two years . As an elementary education major, she felt that the program offered an excellent opportunity to work with children. "I think one of the best things about the program is that it gives you an opportunity to help someone who needs a friend, " said VanRheenen. "I'm there to be someone who will give him a little direction in his life ," said Kent Baker of his "little brother," Ronnie. Kent, a senior from Ft. Worth, Texas , has been involved in the program since the spring of 1992, and he has already had a chance to see how important the relationships fostered by the program can be. "When I came back to school in the fall , I found out Ronnie's mother had gotten a job in Pangburn, Ark. I thought they might be moving, but she told me that she had decided to commute to work because she knew I would be coming back this year to be her son's big brother," said Kent. "It made me realize what an impact we can have and how special our relationship is. " - Melanie Johnson Thania Lee and Ca rla Lopez sing La Bamb< During Homecoming , the tudent Associa tion sponsored Songsations, an activity th;; gave students a chance ro be recordin: stars. Kent Bake r plays football with his "little brothe r" Ronnie Doyle. The Frie nds Pro- 1 gram is one of many service projects spon- , sored by Campus Mi nistry. Campus Ministry. 1st row (1 to r): Kerri Hartman (The Crew) , Anne tte Prior (His House) , Jim Kenne ll (Students Wo rship Away) , Rich Little (Inte rnationa l Students) , Be th Martin (Inte rnational Students). 2nd row: Shannon Caul (Hi s House) , Barby Smith (sponsor) , Wendy Blades (Deva Director), Dwight Smith (sponsor) , Christy Coonts (Students Worship Away) , Lori Tucke r (Spring Break Campaigns) .
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