Behind Ally Baker’s infectious smile and petite frame is a young lady full of energy and vision. Last year she pumped up crowds of enthusiastic Buccaneer fans; but as much as she enjoyed cheering, she chose not to this year. As the BCM director of service ministries, she felt God moving her in a different direction.
Ally Baker, Baptist Campus Ministries service director at Charleston Southern, admires a young girl’s “new jewelry” at the block party.Always on the lookout for service opportunities, she was excited when in August she heard about a community “that needed a little extra love.” She recalls the day she approached the neighborhood of small homes, trailers and campers. “God immediately gave me a vision for a block party in a field next to a small church,” Baker said. That vision became a reality Nov. 5 as about 70 children and adults flocked to the large field where food, face painting, a jump castle, giveaways and lots of fun awaited them.
The success of the block party came after months of building relationships with the residents through Thursday afternoon play dates with the children, enabling the Charleston Southern students to also meet parents. Baker also knows that prayer is essential in reaching the community. She regularly prayerwalks throughout the neighborhood and meets with other students to pray for specific needs. “There is so much there that is corrupt,” Baker said. “And after we got to know the people, we could pray for them by name and for their specific situation, even when their stories are hard to hear.”
As an early childhood education major, Baker is especially drawn to the children and is thrilled that she now takes six children to church with her on Sundays. “The kids are responding and changing; that’s where the reward is,” said Baker.
Baker plans to have a special emphasis for the community each month. In November the students are partnering with a church to provide the community with Thanksgiving meals, and in December the Service Ministry team is planning Operation Bundle Up to collect coats and warm clothes for the community residents.