Mark Tew has only been the president of Judson College in Marion since the spring, but that didn’t stop him from diving headfirst into the work of Judson’s “Marion Matters.”
Alongside approximately 136 Judson volunteers, including students, faculty and staff members, and a team from The Alabama Baptist (TAB) newspaper, Tew and his wife, Ann, served — and sweated — during the Perry County-wide community service initiative Aug. 23, coordinated by Judson’s office of faith-based service and learning.
This year marked Judson College’s 15th annual Marion Matters.
Marion Matters volunteers worked outdoor cleanup, partnered with local schools, visited nursing homes and homebound Marion community members and more.
“I loved participating in Marion Matters,” said TAB digital services associate Haley Piersol, who assisted with clothes sorting at Sowing Seeds of Hope’s job training center. “It was great to see the young ladies of Judson interact and help their community. The world is always a better place when people reach out to help those around them.”
Amy Butler, director of faith-based service and learning at Judson and coordinator of Marion Matters, said that in addition to the meaningful service projects, Marion Matters is often freshman students’ first introduction to the community where they will spend the next three or four years. “Through their participation in Marion Matters,” Butler said, “new students not only learn about service opportunities that exist in Perry County but they also learn about their own gifts and talents that they can use to serve people wherever God calls them.”
Motivation
Tew quoted Mark 10:45 at the debriefing session Friday afternoon reminding students that in the same way Jesus “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many,” the motivation for service “isn’t just the act of service; it is how service is combined in our total giving of ourselves,” he said.
And Marion Matters was the perfect opportunity for the TAB team to kick off its new ministry service effort for staff members, said TAB editor-in-chief Jennifer Davis Rash. “We plan to participate in ministry service projects several times a year so coming alongside Judson in the annual effort in Perry County was a natural partnership.” (Judson, TAB)
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