Approximately 50 Charleston Southern University students will participate in the eighth annual Mini World Changers event at Summerville Baptist Church March 17-19. The women’s volleyball team, Lambda Theta Chi sorority, and students from the Future Teachers Society, among others, will work side by side with 225 youth and 75 adults from 10 churches statewide on service projects throughout the Summerville community.
“This year, Summerville Baptist welcomes college crews from Charleston Southern to participate in this vision of serving,” said Chris Atkinson, a Charleston Southern senior and interim student minister at Summerville Baptist. “Some people may think it’s strange to provide free labor, but as each person involved knows, we are showing others the love of Christ in a practical way through our hard work.”
Local agencies, area churches and concerned individuals alert the Mini World Changers staff at Summerville Baptist to ministry needs in the community. These projects include replacing small roofs, painting houses, performing yard work for the elderly, and building wheelchair ramps and porches. Donations from local businesses and individuals help cover the cost for materials.
Mini World Changers involves many members of Summerville Baptist who provide housing for the students and adults, organize supplies and job sites, prepare meals, provide transportation and work on the job sites.
“Mini World Changers provides an opportunity for these young people to share God’s love by serving together on community projects,” said Summerville pastor Joe Wren. “It also involves many people from our church who provide for housing and other needs to accomplish the goals set for the weekend.”
The Mini World Changers weekend, sponsored by Summerville Baptist, meets the prerequisite for being involved in weeklong World Changers summer mission trips. World Changers is sponsored by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and provides mission opportunities for youth and adults that teach servanthood and renewed commitment to missions. This summer, World Changers will offer community ministries and construction opportunities in 10 different areas, including New Orleans and Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico.