SWAU Students Serve Through New Community Initiatives
KEENE, TEX. – Student leader Samson Sembeba initiated the first Ignite Service Day at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) in 2018. Designed as a half-day event, classes were canceled to allow students, faculty and staff to give back to the community. The goal was to meet the basic needs of local residents while igniting a passion for service within the SWAU family. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, this annual event has grown, becoming a full-day service initiative in 2024, with more than 300 participants.
Recognizing the importance of sustained outreach, the Ignite Service Committee was formed in the fall of 2024. The committee’s mission is to extend the impact of Ignite Service Day beyond one day of action, creating ongoing opportunities for students to engage with and serve the local community. As part of this effort, SWAU has partnered with several established service organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Feed My People (a homeless outreach program in Cleburne) and the Keene Chamber of Commerce and Keene Church’s LIFT food bank initiative and community impact center.
“Service is central to our mission,” said SWAU President Ana Patterson. “Through these opportunities to engage with our community, we hope to inspire our campus to see the true value of living a life of service.”
A recent example of service emerged from a Meals on Wheels route. While delivering a meal, a volunteer discovered that a local resident’s refrigerator had broken, and she needed help transporting a new one. Six SWAU students rallied to the cause, moving the refrigerator across town, relieving the woman’s stress and fulfilling her immediate need. This act of service sparked a conversation between Timothy Eapen, SWAU’s student service coordinator, and Sandra Morales-Beas, Enactus president, about organizing a group to address other basic community needs. Their discussion led to the formation of the 20:35 Club.
Inspired by Acts 20:35, the club’s mission is to serve others by connecting with local service partners. Each month, members meet to address needs as they arise. The club provides a direct channel for students to take action, and its impact is already being felt in the community.
“Witnessing the joy on people’s faces fuels my passion for service,” said Epsen. “Even small acts of kindness inspire me to continue giving my best, knowing that I can make a real difference.”
Morales-Beas added, “When I serve, I am reflecting Jesus’s character. I’ve learned to treat everyone as if they were Jesus in disguise. It’s transformative to see the power of love and compassion in action.”
Through these acts of service, SWAU students are not only meeting immediate needs but also laying a foundation for lifelong Christian growth and outreach. The campus community is embracing the principle found in Acts 20:35, that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” and the momentum continues to grow.
By Susan Grady
