Campaigns Members of me sp ring break campaign to Denver, Colo. gather in from" of the Hope Communi ties building. Sp ring break campaigns were very popular among Harding students. Campaigns n aveled within thestates to places such as NewYork, Chicago and Sr. Louis. There was also a spring break campaign to Jamaica. During these campaigns, students performed a variety of service oriented projects, went door knocking and conducted personal Bible smdies. Summer heat putsjfarding campaigners onfire for God Ab, summer break. For many college students it is perhaps the most relaxi ng and enjoyable three months of the entire year. But, for Burr Casey, senior, it was something entirely different. For six weeks from May to July, Casey forfeited the comforts of the United States in orderta sleep on a hard floor, make roommates ofchickens and bathe with the water from twO buckets while participating in the summer campaign to the Philippines. Casey was not alone. In fact , 300 H arding students participated in summer campaigns sponsored by the College Church of Christ and Campus M inistry. The 16 students who traveled to the Philippines, under the direction of Coach Ted Lloyd, faced a largely-unministered area. "Since this is the first year a campaign has gone to the Philippines, none of us really knew what to expect ," N icole Moreland, junior, said. Yet, even with a lack of experience in the area, the group baptized 14 people during their stay in the Philipines, and as of last August, were continuing to receive notice of ongoing conversions from the team's outreach work. According to Lloyd, the group's success was partially the result of Harding's outstanding reputation earned several decades ago. "George Benson was the first Christian missionary to the Philipines," he said. Although Benson only spent two years there, his outstanding work is still remembered in the Churches of Christ today. The 16 students arrived May 17, on the island of 26 Student Life Cebu where they spent four weeks ministering to small established Christian congregations in the area. In order to reach as many people as possible and pursue one-on-one Bible studies, the students were divided into groups of two or three. During the first four weeks spent in the Philippines, each group ministered to different areas, using a variety of methods. Moreland, along with group-parmer Dana Maling, senior, conducted visitations in the communities and helped organize and conduct a vacation Bible school for more rhan 70 local children. By the end ofthe team's six week stay, the group had covered a fraction of the nation 's few thousand islands and even extended thei r effort to Hong Kong. "This was a great campaign group," Lloyd said. "It was one of the best that I have ever been on." T he Philippines campaign was one of26 that scattered Harding students everywhere from No ttingham, England , to the French-speaking country of Togo in the continent ofAfrica. Student medical mission teams were also sent to the countries of Uganda and Kenya. Students involved in campaigns began raisingmoney, mainly through letter writing early in the fall semester. COStS to attend six week campaigns averaged $2,000 per person depending on housing arrangements and travel COSts. Moreland best summed up the purpose for each campaign experience, "The best part of the campaign for me was watching myself grow closer to God, and watching other people grow." - Elizabeth Smith
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