Local Missions; Big Impacts

By Ashleigh Clark

Pictured above: In the fall of 2023, a panel discussion titled “Disability is Not A Dirty Word: Navigating Inclusivity” gave students the opportunity to hear from people and
their families about living with disabilities. The panel also advised on how the church can help families.

Have you ever seen those adorable puppies trotting around campus? Maybe you have petted these puppies, enjoying their adorable presence. They certainly are cute additions to campus life. Those puppies are a part of a volunteer opportunity Cedarville University provides for its students.

Cedarville encourages students to use their gifts to impact others locally and globally. Many go through Global Outreach, which sends students around the world to foreign mission fields. For others, the local community is their mission field. Cedarville students serve the community through various organizations off campus. 

Tang, Hougentogler and Birt are three students who participate in on and off-campus organizations that support the local community. 

Noah Tang, a Masters of Divinity grad student, has volunteered at the Pregnancy Resource Clinic of Clark County (PRC) for about a year. 

According to Tang, the PRC “provides free services to its community relating to pregnancy and sexual health–for example, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and financial and parenting classes.”

Recently, the PRC has expanded its outreach to the male partners of the women who come to the clinic. Noah serves the PRC as a Male Mentor. He comes alongside these fathers to share the gospel and encourage them in their new phase of life. 

The environment of the PRC encourages Tang as a volunteer. He appreciates the warmth of the people he works with, a warmth that extends to their clients. 

“The staff and fellow volunteers are some of the kindest people I have worked with,” Tang said. “They are encouraging, patient, and gentle.”

The blessings Tang experienced encourage him to go out and help in the neighborhood mission field. 

“As someone who is blessed to have been raised in a Christian home and to study at a Christian university, it seems appropriate for me to serve God and others with what I have been given,” Tang said.

Cedarville University’s social work honors student organization, Phi Alpha Epsilon Omega also serves the local public through on-campus events. 

Sarah Hougentogler, senior social work major and President of the Phi Alpha chapter on campus, said, “Phi Alpha members work to create educational opportunities through putting on events open to members of their community.” 

Last semester, Phi Alpha organized a panel discussion on campus called “Disability is Not A Dirty Word: Navigating Inclusivity,” was a chance for Cedarville students to hear from individuals with disabilities as well as their family members speak on their experiences. The panel also advised on how the church can help families. 

For Hougentogler, this event also had a deep personal connection. 

“My older brother lived with an anoxic brain injury for 11 years until he passed away in December of 2022,” Hougentogler said. “I saw this event as a special way to honor him and as an opportunity from the Lord to channel my passion and love for the disability community toward education and service.” 

Phi Alpha allows Hougentogler to use the gifts God has given her.

“I am a passionate person, and advocacy is one of my strengths,” Hougentolder said. “While at times this can present as a weakness, Phi Alpha has allowed me a structured, healthy, and effective way to advocate for marginalized people.”

Hougentogler hopes that the event will spark continued dialogue.

“That event went very well and was a starting point for the discussion on disabilities and the church to be continued on Cedarville’s campus,” Hougentogler said.

Paws 4 Ability, a Xenia non-profit that trains service dogs for people with disabilities, brings volunteering closer to campus.

Senior Management major Kristina Birt started volunteering with Paws 4 Ability in May 2023. As a primary trainer, she fosters puppies 24/7. Currently, Birt cares for Felix, a Labrador.

“Felix lives with me (I commute to school from my parents) and he goes with me everywhere,” Birt said. 

Birt also helps with the puppies at the Paws 4 Ability building. Recently, she helped connect a new puppy named Lolee with a foster home and trainer. 

“I posted to the volunteer Facebook about [Lolee] looking for a foster home,” said Birt. “By the end of the day, Lolee had a volunteer.” 

The dogs have not only helped those with disabilities, but they have also made impacts on the lives of imprisoned individuals. Paws 4 Ability brings puppies to prison to spend time with trained inmates. Interacting with dogs helps inmates with reentry into society. 

The puppies enriched the lives of all. 

“Not only are they impacting those who will eventually get a service dog, but they impact their volunteers.” Birt especially values Felix’s impact on her health. “I, for one, have been super blessed by Felix who I know I can trust and rely on when I’m not doing well mentally.” 

Serving the local community not only paints a positive image of Cedarville students, it reflects Christ’s love. No matter where or how students serve, volunteering is an opportunity to impact the community.   

Ashleigh Clark is a senior Political Science major. She loves hiking and playing cozy games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing

Photo by Ian Chan