By Copy Editor, Avery Walker
One of the most important aspects of the body of believers is the way in which they impact their community. So important is this function of the church, in fact, that Jesus defined his disciples by their love for one another (John 13:35). Christians should be marked by the way in which they love each other and their community; however, this love does not come from human strength but from God Himself.
This year’s Tiger Serve Day was characterized by this abundant love. It centered around the theme “Overflow,” which finds its roots in 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”
Tiger Serve Day is one of Ouachita’s most beloved traditions. One Saturday each semester, hundreds of students gather to step out in love toward the Arkadelphia community. Even in the midst of Ouachita’s busiest time of year, 87 teams of students spent their weekend serving their community, from yard work to having conversations and building relationships.
However, Tiger Serve Day is much more than just one Saturday. During the first five weeks of school, a group of dedicated students volunteer on the Tiger Serve Day leadership team, helping with preparations and logistics. Mrs. Judy Duvall, the director of the Elrod Center since 1989, described the process behind the day of service.
“Tiger Serve Day starts in the summer where we send out letters to nonprofits and churches,” Duvall said. “We try to find about a hundred projects in the community. Then the Tiger Serve Day leadership team meets for five weeks leading up to the day, with each leader visiting the four projects they’re in charge of.”
On Tiger Serve Day itself, the leadership team remains on campus, organizing supplies and making sure everything runs smoothly. Zach Moore, a junior Christian studies major and co-teams chair, has loved his experience on the Tiger Serve Day leadership team. “I love getting to serve and do the hard work,” Moore said. “I love getting to meet everyone and hear how much [the day] means to them. And I love the team; we work really well together, which makes everything run smoothly. The team puts service first, and we couldn’t do it without them.”
Beyond the physical services offered, Tiger Serve Day is all about building connections between the Arkadelphia community and Ouachita’s campus. Even after the day itself is over, the Elrod Center continues reaching out to the people served, ensuring that a relationship is maintained. Leigh Anne McKinney, the associate director of the Elrod Center, explained this process.
“Our senior adults especially love and look forward to Tiger Serve Day, and we get to serve them again, and again and again,” McKinney said. “I love watching the resources we have meet the community’s needs.” Tiger Serve Day teams often stay in touch with the people they served, building close connections between Ouachita and the Arkadelphia community.
Ultimately, Tiger Serve Day would not be possible without the students and faculty that volunteer to execute the various service projects that the leadership team plans. This year, over 800 Ouachita students and staff signed up to participate in Tiger Serve Day and pour out Christ’s love to the community. Duvall loves this aspect of Tiger Serve Day. “I don’t think you’d find another campus where that many people show up,” Duvall said. “OBU is very unique in that way.”
