Martin Luther King the human

Before we begin the biographical series on MLK's life, I'd like to express a short disclaimer: we're on the outside looking in. What we know today is from books, articles, and photos: second-hand accounts. That said, only those closest to Dr. King know the real man and though you nor I will never know him like we know our own friends, we shan't tire to continue to understand and learn from one of the most influential voices of the 20th century.

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Before Martin Luther King, Jr. was anything, he was a human.

Before the speeches, marches, and protests, he lived in a world of what people then called "Negroes," a term alien to contemporary vocabulary. Born into lineages of pastors and share croppers, Martin (orginally named Michael) lived on the nicest "black" street in Atlanta, ate three healthy meals a day, and received an education in the public school system. His mother, a college graduate, washed his clothes and tucked him in at night. His dad taught him to open doors for ladies and how to say grace before dinner. From the outside looking in, his world was as perfect as it could be... but separate and unequal from the other half of American society.

Imagine two worlds separated by an invisible line, and when that line becomes unclear, tear gas and fire hoses attempt to re-align the status quo. Racism and prejudice laced MLK's childhood memories. As a young boy he lost a white friend to the racism of the friend's parents. On hot days he had to find a "colored" drinking fountain. As Martin grew up he began to tread the invisible line between the two worlds, and he wasn't going to let tear gas and fire hoses stop him.

Decades after his death, we see Dr. King as a statue of marble. Smooth, illustrious, and flawless in every way. His image today is the result of a common phenomenon of human psychology. After someone dies, we only regale the good deeds and shining moments because it's shameful to speak ill of someone who in life did so much good, as if we're going to reverse their actions with our whispers. As a result, with each passing generation the legacy of someone long since passed becomes more resilient and less... human.

And if MLK was anything, he was human.

Passion and faith lit is soul. Words blossomed from his mouth and and transplanted into the hearts of listeners. He felt fury for his friends lying soaking wet and bruised in the streets because someone thought water could rinse away the Civil Rights Movement. The reverand held tight to his children, praying that some day they could share a water fountain with their white friends. He didn't begin his life with perfection and he didn't end it with such, and that's not a bad thing. He cried tears of anguish, smiled at the thought of love, and clenched his fists in anger. Some days his suit pants were wrinkly and maybe he picked the pickles off his burgers.

As a member of a generation on the other end of MLK's dreams, what does all of this mean for you? It means that if you have wrinkly pants, if you don't like pickles, or if you think your ideas are impossible, you can remember that your role model started somewhere. He or she was a human first, will remain a complex and flawed being, but you will remember that person for the change in your life despite the humanity of your hero.

Information source: biography.com "Martin Luther King, Jr."

The doc, the rev, the rebel.

We often refer to him as "MLK," as if his real name and title are a mystery or, like Voldemort, must not be named. We use a shorter version of "the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." because frankly, that's a mouthful. His titles and suffix, however, represent the evolutions of his life that brought him to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movemement. He wasn't Sir Martin Luther King or Martin King, MBA. He preached to the people, earned a doctorate, and lived life with his father's name. A story lies within his name, and we're going to explore it in an expository series that will unfold between now and the MLK Day of Service on January 17, 2011.

If you have any tid bits about the life and times of the Reverand or would like to contribute, don't hesitate to send me a cyber letter.

Dr. and Mrs. (Coretta Scott) King eventually had four children.

Make time to make a difference

Despite the catchy phrase in the logo, fellow Camels, students don't have MLK Day off at Campbell. You do, however, have some spare time between classes and meals to help give back in honor of the life and works of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

You don't have to appreciate Dr. King to celebrate the MLK Day Service. If you appreciate being a light to the world, going against the grain, persuasive speech, or living a life of undying passion, then your place on January 17 is in a service project because you appreciate the same ideals Dr. King did.

"MLK" is perhaps one of the most well-known series of three letters in the English speaking world. Why? Becuse they represent the name of one of the most influential American men of the twentieth century. His words brought a society to its knees and are a big part of why you go to school with people from walks of life different than your own.

If you've participated in Operation Inasmuch or the 9/11 Day of Service, you know the drill... sort of. The projects are all local, but this year they reflect themes of health: physical health, environmental health, and mental/emotional health. Also, you don't sign up for which project you want-- it's called the MLK Challenge Model and it means, in order to represent overcoming adversity with diversity, that you are randomly placed into a project. 

Yes, that means that even if you sign up to rake leaves with your best friend, it doesn't mean you guys will be in your social comfort zone doing something familiar to you. You might end up meeting six new people and visiting a nursing home, or maybe you'll get to know that quiet kid from biology and end up making care packages for a soldier.

The projects are designed to be short-term but impactful. We understand that you have classes and homework, so we hope you can make the time to make a difference.

Look for the sign-up sheet in the Oasis when you return from winter break. Between now and then, keep up with MLK Day information on the Facebook page.

Check out this pastor's interpretation of Martin Luther King's work and what it can mean for the Christian community.







"Do not think you cannot make a difference today."

Blessed are the merciful

Have you experienced mercy lately?

"Mercy" is one of those words we commonly associate with the New Testament. Jesus used it frequently in his teachings because of its relevancy to his ministry. 

Examples of mercy are everywhere. Maybe for you it means sitting with the new kid at lunch, keeping an embarrassing secret, or maybe this year it'll be holding hands with the homeless, poor, and hungry.

The thing about mercy is that it's a two-way street. Many Americans feel accustomed to giving/thinking we give mercy because we have the means to offer it in material form-- we can donate money, offer canned goods, and give away our old clothes. While those donations are valuable, they're easy because we just write a check or sort through old boxes, and our stuff becomes someone else's burden. 

What if you started taking on burdens and exercising mercy through your emotions and time? Eat lunch with the working poor, bake bread with an unemployed mom in your house, or sit and listen to the worries of a man who's scared to tell his wife their home has been foreclosed. Whatever you do, welcome someone who needs something (a listening ear, words of praise, good advice) into a safe place and stick by them. Sometimes all we need to get through life is a companion.

I mention that because when you volunteer with people who typically get the "untouchable" label, remember that it's not you vs. them. It's both of you vs. the world and you're there to be their friend, not a benefactor.

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Love isn't seasonal, but of course certain times of the year bring more obvious opportunities for volunteering, donating, and other forms of providing. While I like to encourage long-term investment volunteering, below are a few things going on over the holidays you might want to check out. 

If you're sitting in a warm room in a household that bought the computer you're using, someone out there needs your help.


- Raleigh Rescue Mission has a plethora of opportunities revolving around Turkey Day and Jesus' birthday. 

- Helping Hands for Heroes is a non-profit based in Angier that sends care packages to deployed soldiers.

- Eastern NC Poverty Network needs your help providing Bibles, winter clothes, and prayer. 

- Operation Christmas Child is collecting boxes this week, and Campbell is a drop-off site! 

You can also check resources in your own area to discover a way to give back during the chilly season.

Happy holidays... for some.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the season is here-- candy galore, monthly feasts, curly ribbon, and chilly weather. The holidays.

Several things, including the ones mentioned above, are classic symbols of the American holiday season. But does every American associate the holiday season with such luxury and comfort?

If you wake up in a warm bed on Christmas day to the smell of breakfast in the kitchen, or if on the second day of Hanukkah you pull on clean clothes in a house with running water, the classic symbols ring true for you. However, Santa collects money for the Salvation Army for a reason, and it's not to take the burden of loose change off your hands.

This year Campbell is proud to be a drop-off site for the nationally recognized Operation Christmas Child, an arm of Christian aid organization Samaritan's Purse. The concept is effective, fun, and inexpensive-- you fill a shoe box with fun stuff for a child who may not be able to ravenously tear open gifts from under a tree. Check out the site for packing instructions and suggestions for what to buy. My personal suggestion is to hit up a Dollar Store to fill the box for very little money.

So, the call to action is two-fold: we need volunteers to process the boxes once the arrive to the Rumley Center, and we need volunteers to make the boxes. 

You can assemble one box or 100 boxes-- whatever your heart desires. A unique gift idea, in place of giving a tangible gift to a friend this Christmas, is to send the box in his or her name (similar to donation to a charity in someone's name).

The drop-off hours are:

Monday – Thursday                                                     Friday

10:30 – 1:00                                                                10:30 – 1:00

3:30 – 6:00                                                                  2:30 – 5:00

If you'd like to volunteer for one of those shifts, please e-mail Terry Tucker and let her know you first three shift choices.

Make this December 25 extra special by sending a child a Merry Christmas that you personally prepared.

Caring Camels are coming your way

Raise your hand if you've ever wanted to volunteer while in Buies Creek but didn't know how.

High five! After reading this post you'll know exactly how.

New to the service side of Campbell is Caring Camels, a cutesy name for a serious program that will help prospective tutors and mentors figure out which local tutoring or mentoring agency is right for them. To prevent saying the words "tutor" and "mentor" fifty times in one paragraph, we're going to refer to them as "volunteers."

Caring Camels manages a two-way relationship between the student body and the Harnett County education community. The program itself will manage profiles of and communication with local tutoring/mentoring organizations while at the same time matching volunteers with such organizations.

Scenario: Rachael wants to help elementary school students with math and knows about a couple local programs but is unsure what to do. Instead of chasing information in circles on Google, she comes to Caring Camels. After an application and get-to-know-you discussion, Caring Camels helps Rachael figure out that perhaps tutoring at either Buies Creek Elementary School or Baptist Fellowship of Angier would be best because 1. those organizations need math tutors, and 2. they need math tutors during hours that fit Rachael's schedule.

If you think volunteering to help local kids sounds like you but you're not sure of expectations or maybe you think tutoring is just for geeks, check out our in-house definitions:

Tutoring is academically based and a form of supplemental education. A tutor helps a student with material that he or she doesn’t understand in class and needs additional help with outside school hours. A tutor must not only have a mastery of the subject matter but also be able to explain it in a simplified form applicable to the student. A tutor must understand that tutoring is not about gaining for him or herself. It’s a selfless activity to build up the student and to help him or her carry and eventually release the burden of their academic struggle. In addition to teaching academic material a quality tutor will exhibit positive characteristics that exemplify a responsible adult: punctuality, encouragement to the student, a positive attitude, and consistence in attendance.

Mentoring is relationship based and a form of supplemental quality time. A mentor spends healthy quality time with a mentee when quality time at home is not available to the mentee for various reasons. A mentor must understand that mentoring is not about gaining for him or herself. It’s a selfless activity to build up the mentee and to help him or her carry and potentially release the burden of a possible personal struggle. A mentor must set aside time to focus on the mentee. A quality mentor will exhibit positive characteristics that exemplify a responsible adult: punctuality, encouragement to the mentee, a positive attitude, and consistence in attendance.

I'm sure you noticed some common threads. Whether you're helping a middle school student be baller on the court or showing a fourth grader how to do long division, you need to show up and lift up.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming publicity around campus, including via Facebook, everyone's favorite brain drainer.

Mentoring can also mean spending time with special needs adults at the annual BSU Spring Fling.

Busy as a bee

I can't believe it's been almost a month since Service Learning @ Campbell's last post! Time has flown and the last few weeks have been full of activities and blossoming ideas. Campbell students are in full swing, the football team has lost two games, and it's 95 degrees out with low humidity-- all signs that autumn is settling in Buies Creek.

Check out how faith, learning, and service have been excelling on campus:

- The first annual 9/11 Day of Service was a hit. Seventy students woke up early Saturday morning to give back in honor of the soldier(s) in their lives. All six projects went well and we can't wait to see what happens next year!

- The poverty miniseries is coming together. Speakers formerly in poverty or currently working with the impoverished will explore with us how poverty is more than just being poor. Check out the Facebook page for dates and times.

- If you want to get involved in tutoring or mentoring, you're at the right place at the right time. We're developing a service to help you figure out which organization is the best fit for you based on the mutual goals, schedules, and abilities of you and a tutoring or mentoring organization.


- Driving down Route 55 between Buies Creek and Angier will show you that it's picking season for North Carolina's migrant workers. The NC Farmworkers Project needs volunteers at its Thursday night clinics (May - October) to facilitate the clinics, present health information, translate, and just spend time with the migrant workers. If any of those activities are up your alley, give me a shout and we'll set you up to impact our community.


Lastly, as the temperatures cool and the holidays come around, I encourage you to step outside your own world and take a look at what others need. It could be something as simple as your neighbor needing a free babysitter for a night, or perhaps a family at church could use some help buying groceries this week. Or maybe, as we'll learn through the poverty miniseries, that needs related to poverty aren't always financial. Be a friend to the lady on your street who lives alone or be a role model to the too-skinny little kids always hanging out where they shouldn't be. Your purpose on earth is not to live for yourself.

This camel is also busy as a bee.