Service is an indispensable part of following Jesus, but it is often misunderstood as merely a “duty” or an “output” of our faith. At OneLife, we approach service as a form of spiritual formation. We’ve discovered that when we are stressed, confused, or struggling with apathy, the best remedy isn’t always more study—it’s getting our hands dirty for the Kingdom.
Recently in Greenville, our OLX students leaned into the truth that while our knowledge often informs our doing, our hands can also inform our heads and our hearts.
Vocation: The “Why” Behind the “Work”
Our OLX students began the week with a deep dive into Purpose, Calling, and Vocation with Paul Clark from Find Good People. It was a vital time of connecting the dots between who the students are and what the world needs. By framing leadership as a response to God’s call rather than a climb up a professional ladder, the students were prepared to enter their service sites not as “helpers,” but as participants in God’s ongoing work in the world.
In the Greenhouse: Restoration at Soteria
At Soteria, a faith-based community development center, students witnessed the power of restorative justice. Soteria provides transitional housing and job training for those impacted by the criminal justice system, advocating for those society often forgets.
Working in the greenhouse and the fields, our students stood side-by-side with individuals who are reclaiming their lives and their dignity. Hearing the stories of the founders and the employees transformed “social justice” from a buzzword into a human face. In the dirt and the heat of the greenhouse, the students’ hands informed their hearts about the depth of God’s grace and the importance of creating pathways for reentry and renewal.
In the Kitchen: The Beauty of Hidden Work
The service continued at Project Host, a local soup kitchen dedicated to loving the Greenville community through food. The students spent their time cooking, cleaning, and serving meals.
In a world that celebrates high-profile leadership, Project Host offered a lesson in the “hidden work” of the Kingdom. There is a specific kind of humility required to prep a meal or scrub a kitchen floor for someone you may never see again. It was a time of connection—not just with the people being served, but with the other volunteers who dedicate their lives to this quiet, hard work. It was a reminder that the Body of Christ is made of many “hands and feet” doing the small things that make a massive difference.
From Doing to Being: Preparing to SOAR
As we move toward our SOAR event, where students will present their growth to business and ministry leaders, this week of service serves as their foundation. They aren’t just presenting “projects”; they are presenting a new way of being in the world.
Each Student Business Unit (SBU) has spent the year learning the mechanics of management, but this week gave those mechanics a soul. They learned that leadership is a posture of service. Whether they are in a boardroom or a soup kitchen, they are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Looking Ahead
As our OLX students prepare for Spring Break and their upcoming trip to Utah, they carry a new perspective. They have seen that when the mind is noisy, the hands can provide clarity. We are profoundly thankful for the local organizations that allowed us to partner with them. They showed our students that the most powerful way to lead is to serve, and the most powerful way to learn is to simply start doing the work of the Kingdom.