THe agape center
for service and learning
Here you will find reflections from Messiah students who have participated in any form of service or engagement through the Agape Center!
Here you will find reflections from Messiah students who have participated in any form of service or engagement through the Agape Center!
Here you will find reflections from Messiah students who have participated in any form of service or engagement through the Agape Center!
Megan Eaton
I decided to go on a fall break service trip because I wanted to get involved in the service experiences that drew me to Messiah in the first place. I ended up going to the Bronx, New York, along with eleven other students from Messiah. It changed my outlook on New York City; I had always seen the it from a tourist stand point but, now I understand what it is like for the residents of the city. I grew in my own faith by seeing people who are happy even though they have so little.
Daniel Mewha
I went on the Priority One trip to the Bronx over fall break. This trip opened my eyes to a lot of the great work being done in New York City. Prior to this trip, I had judged NYC pretty harshly due to my limited encounters with it, but this trip completely changed my view of it. The people who were in full-time ministry there blew me away by their strong faith and determination to serve. My team grew increasingly close on this trip as well as increasingly confident when interacting with the homeless which was an amazing thing to experience.
Ashley Stengel
The service trip to Bronx, NY was a wonderful experience that pushed me to take steps out of my comfort zone. One thing that I have never been comfortable with is approaching strangers and asking them to pray with them. In NY, I had many opportunities to pray with the homeless. Through Messiah college service trips I also experienced spiritual growth. The team that I was a part of spent much of the trip connecting through devotions and spending every day in singing worship songs. At the end of the trip I had a new and stronger desire to serve people and share the love of God.
Here are some reflections from senior Politics major Alex Swan after participating in a Fall Break 2015 service trip to Priority 1 in the Bronx, NY.
My team and I went to the Bronx, NY and partnered with an organization called Priority One. During the trip, we performed a variety of functions including volunteering at an after-school program, packaging food kits, helping to run a mobile soup kitchen, and participating in a prayer walk around New York City. Overall, my experience was absolutely incredible largely due to the organization we worked with, my team members, and the individuals we built relationships with throughout our journey. As a result, I am both anxious and inspired to continue this work both in the near future and in my long term vocation in the pursuit of standing for the vulnerable and glorifying God.
"This morning we were able to assemble food and materials for an outreach mission throughout the Bronx serving day workers and the homeless. The experience was both heartbreaking and hopeful in the which relationships were built upon and real change was beginning to take place."
"One of our locations was below in which we were able to see and the enjoy the beautiful sight of the Statue of Liberty. It has made me think about perhaps what our country is seeking to achieve, namely - liberty and justice for all, a daunting task but nonetheless a task I believe is worth pursuing. God is here and is now and I am thankful to live in America and have opportunities to stand for the most vulnerable, in Jesus' name. A powerful symbol and a moment I will always cherish."