Campaigners travel to every corner of the earth to show people the love of Christ While on a scavenger hunt in Toowoomba , Australia, junior Kevin Buchnam looks on as Australian Matt Dusza pretends to be a King. Due to decreased participation in summer inter– national campaigns, only one group trav– eled to Australia last summer. (Photo by Jim Miller) Junior Lindsey Harriman designs a poster to portray David and Goliath for Vacation Bible School. Harriman was a part of the Fall River, Mass. spring break campaign that door-knocked, conducted a youth rally and performed skits at Bristol Community College. (Photo by Renee Lewis) • • 26 student life Daniel Cherry, director of spring break campaigns, said the goal of campaigns was to encourage local congregations, reach out to local communities and develop Christian servants. Most campaigners remembered the lives they touched and the people they had the opportunity to help. "You think you 're going to go on a campaign and change tons of lives," junior Lauren Cantrell said. "People always think of New York City, or the nursing homes or the shelters. "But ifyou ask a campaigner wha t impact they had, they'll always tell you a story of one person they touched; for us it was an elderly couple living in a shack in Griffin, Ga. Twenty of us were crowded in their three room apa rtment and as we sang 'Amazing Grace' the elderly lady started to bawl." Cherry said the best part about campaigns was the week after every– one returned, praising God for the work He did through them. One such casewas withJonSingle– ton, who led two consecutive spring break campaigns to Liverpool, N.Y. "I've learned somuch on my cam– paigns," Jon Singleton, English ad– junct, said. "The campaigners defi– nitely get mo re out of it than the people." Singleton told a story about a Liverpool teenager, Dan, who was known for being rebellious, bisexual, a drug addict and car thief. Through the course or the cam– paign, team members and youth group members fromLiverpool spent time with Dan and his friends, initiat– ing calm, caring conversations and discussions about Jesus. Although their time with Dan was short, Liverpoolcampaignerswereex– cited about the seed that had been planted in Dan's life. "I hope that someday Dan will remember the things that we talked about with him," junior Melanie Grady, campaign member, said. "l hope that he will pull out that piece of his memory and act upon it." Cherry was excited about the en– thusiasm college students brought to struggling churches and communi– ties. "The college generation brought vitality, excitement and idealism which is healthy. Churches need a vision like that," Cherry said. "College is typically the 'me' stage of life. Spring break is an opportunity to show that there are good college kids who care to serve." -Erin Knthleell Henly
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