ETBU students scatter to ministry over spring break

From South Texas to the Midwest, students from East Texas Baptist University served in missions and ministry over spring break.

East Texas Baptist University students put into place the top frame for a storage shed. Students from ETBU went to Laredo over spring break to participate in the ongoing Habitat of Humanity project in the Tierra Prometida neighborhood. (PHOTO/ETBU/Cassy Rains)

Five ETBU students worked in Laredo on a Habitat of Humanity project in the Tierra Prometida neighborhood. The subdivision will be a 60-home neighborhood of houses all built by Habitat for Humanity. Currently, 27 homes are completed or under construction.

Before starting work on the building project, students assisted First Baptist in Athens at a free medical clinic in Laredo.

“Even though this was spring break, I did not see it as giving up my relaxation time because it was so much fun,” said Tyler Moore, team leader and ETBU Baptist Student Ministry intern. “There was a sacrifice of time, but I saw this trip as an effective use of my time and efforts in service of God’s greater work.”

BSM Director Mark Yates took a group of students to South Padre Island, Texas to participate in Beach Reach, a program that ministers to college spring breakers by providing rides, free pancakes and friendship. Beach Reach reaches ministers to college spring breakers by providing rides, free pancakes, and friendship. Many opportunities to share the gospel occurred during the acts of ministry, participants recalled.

East Texas Baptist University student Benjamin Xi of China cuts a board for a storage shed being built in Laredo. Students from ETBU spent their recent spring break participating in the ongoing Habitat of Humanity project in the Tierra Prometida neighborhood. (PHOTO/ETBU/Cassy Rains)

East Texas Baptist University students (left to right) Tyler Moore, Cassy Rains, Benjamin XI, Dana Talasek, Ezequil Laurel, Michael Cucinotta, and Justin Adaway pose after finishing a shed for a Habitat for Humanity home in Laredo. ETBU students spent spring break in Laredo participating in an ongoing Habitat Humanity project in the Tierra Prometida neighborhood.  Laurel was the Habitat for Humanity Project Manager for the ETBU project. (PHOTO/ETBU BSM)

“One particular evening, we were stopped by a young lady who was bleeding. She had gotten into a situation with her boyfriend and he hit her,” Yates said.

“All she wanted was a safe place to be for awhile and she ended up staying with our group all night, giving us the chance to minister to her in a time of crisis.”

While some students served in South Texas, another group worked with Allan Thompson, director of the ETBU Great Commission Center, in Chicago.

The team worked in church planting and service ministry in the inner city, partnering with Chicagoland Community Church, Uptown Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Church-Westside and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. 

At one site, students helped a pastor with the demolition of his home that had been destroyed by an arsonist. 

“As we were helping the pastor, he still had a smile on his face and still had his joy. He even knew who had burned down his house. The Lord impressed upon me that I must serve with a smile, because there is always someone out there less fortunate than myself,” said Stephanie Taylor, ETBU admissions counselor and a former Lady Tiger basketball player.

“The pastor was not angry at the person. He just said God will take care of that man and his heart and his situation. The pastor’s actions showed the love and peace he has in Christ. If he could still keep his joy with all that is happening in his life, I can definitely do the same.”

Closer to home, Karyn Solly led members of Delta Pi Theta to work with Mission Carthage during the break. Mission Carthage is a nonprofit, Christian organization that ministers to the poor and needy of Panola, Rusk, Shelby and Harrison counties. Several ETBU students worked at the Mission Carthage women’s shelter, assisting the residents with their chores and playing with the children.

“Although these women started out as strangers, I am glad to say they have become friends.  The time at Mission Carthage showed me that mission trips do not have to be global to make a huge impact. They can be right in your own backyard and can have just as much of an impact in your life as going overseas does,” Solly said.