LCU students raising the bar for Generosity

[March 31, 2015]  LINCOLN - Each year, Lincoln Christian University’s (LCU) Undergraduate Student Cabinet partners with an organization of their choice and facilitates a campus-wide offering to challenge, sharpen, and encourage the generosity of fellow students, faculty and staff. The leadership team tasked with this mission is called the Generosity Committee under the leadership of sophomore Ashlyn Nickerson of Bethany.

During the 2014 fall semester, the committee put on a handful of events/activities that helped our main campus community in Lincoln, IL, focus on the meaning of generosity. Nickerson is quick to point out, “We learned some crucial points that must be a part of our understanding of a Christ-like life of giving.” Serving with Nickerson are Morgan Witzke (Clinton, IL), Conner Barteau (Noblesville, IN), Oscar Magaña (Joliet, IL), Kameo Krienke (Rockton, IL) and Abbey Akre (Newark, IL).

Nickerson reported this during this spring semester that “our students are excited to put what they learned into action through a partnership with1MISSION.” 1MISSION is a community development organization based out of Glendale, Arizona, that gives people living in poverty an opportunity to earn a home by serving their community. LCU’s goal is to raise $12,000 to help 1MISSION build three homes in Mexico.

The process attaches LCU’s fundraising efforts to one family in need at a time, while they work together to “build” their home. Lincoln Christian University is currently working to put a new roof over the Ortiz Sotomea family. Mother, Rosa earns $50 a week as a seafood processing worker in Mexico to support her 7 and 1 year old children. Just $3,163.59 will put a roof over their heads. Once this goal is met, they will begin raising funds for a second family and so on.

Nickerson said “It breaks the barrier between global and local generosity. As we work in our community, we raise money for the families in Mexico who are working in THEIR community to earn a home. It promotes community development all around.”

LCU students are hoping to reach beyond generic on-campus offerings and allow students to look at their own lives to determine what they have to give and use that thing or skill to raise money in a personal way. There are already some very creative “micro” campaigns underway with more planned for April.

One group of students is conducting a “Plasma for the People” campaign in which they have committed to giving plasma and donating the proceeds from their gifts to the 1Mission goal. Another group of girls is training and taking pledges to run a half-marathon. A recent residence hall fundraiser shared 20% of their receipts with the campaign. Tips left at the LCU student center’s Warehouse Coffeeshop are going to 1Mission and have already exceeded $250.

Nate Hughes, 1MISSION’s Partnerships Director, came to the Lincoln campus in January to help launch the initiative on campus by speaking in missions classes and speaking during Chapel worship. He also helped the team build a physical reminder of this Generosity initiative next to the Warehouse Student Center.

The public is welcome to join with LCU’s undergraduate student body, and consider gifts in support of the Generosity goal. The LCU student body can accept gifts from the community-at-large through May 12, 2015. Send your checks to 1Mission, Lincoln Christian Univrsity, 100 Campus View Drive, Lincoln, IL 262626. Or give online at www.LincolnChristian.edu/1Mission.

Established in 1944, Lincoln Christian University’s mission is to equip Christians to serve and lead in the church, the workplace, and the world. Today, LCU offers a variety of degree programs for undergraduate, graduate and seminary students. Classes are offered on campus, at extension sites and online. To learn more visit www.lincolnchristian.edu.

[Chris Thomas, Lincoln Christian University]