This Little Light of Mine

Published: April 13, 2021

In the hustle of daily life, Christ calls us to be the light in the world light that brings warmth and gives life, light that reveals His love. At Greenville College, students are empowered through hands-on experience to carry the light of Christs love to others.

Pursuit, a music ministry comprised students filling out five worship bands, make worship shine at churches, camps, retreats and conferences across the United States. This summer, Pursuit musicians traveled to Orlando for the 2015 General Conference of the Free Methodist Church. There, band members led youth in worship twice daily. Worship leading is first a spiritual role, then a musical one; a way to serve the body of Christ, explains Paul Sunderland, head of GCs worship arts program. His students get the message. After participating in a Pursuit-led worship service this summer, one pastor said that the team brought people to a heart posture focused, not on the musicians, but fully on Jesus. It was refreshing to see such maturity, he said.

Faith integrated with learning in college translates into faith integrated with work after college. Guided internships help bridge the two. Professors at GC encourage students to give their work as worship and welcome the presence of the risen Christ to fill them, equip them and send them. Take ministry, for instance. We see ministry as a daring adventure in following Jesus. We train our students to courageously and creatively improvise in ministry with an imagination illuminated by the Gospel, shares Director of GCs Ministry Internship Program Ben Wayman. From Nicaragua to Chicago, ministry internships provide students with opportunities to participate in Gods exciting work of reconciliation. In 2014, students majoring in ministry were among the 97.5 percent of GC graduates overall that were either employed full time or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation.

Graduates like Nicole Crites take lessons learned at GC into their work and play. Nicole helped organize her co-workers to serve as big brothers and big sisters to needy children. She credits GC for developing her community consciousness through service opportunities like The Simple Room ministry to underprivileged youth and Urban Plunge, a ministry to needy people on societys margins. By the time she graduated with a major in accounting and business administration, serving others was second nature. People in business careers have a moral duty. The fact that my employer also encourages opportunities to gain a sense of personal fulfillment while serving the needs of the local community is really important to me.

Each day, young GC graduates shed light in their unique spheres of influence. Ryan Paine, says of his work as a police officer, Every day you are helping someone who is going through one of the worst days of their lives. Seth England, voted one of Billboards young power players in music, inspires colleagues with wisdom gleaned from one of his professors: You cant afford not to. Sonya Jones, uses her fame as a finalist on NBCs reality weight loss show The Biggest Loser to encourage others overwhelmed with struggle: Set your goals, go hard after them, and dont let anyone tell you that you cant . . . I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things.

Yes, college is about learning, but at GC, its also about this little light.