RAMServe: Huge Community Effort Brings “Renewal Around the Midlands”
April 10, 2023
By Bob Holmes
For the third year in a row, Columbia International University students spanned out across greater Columbia for an ambitious day of service.
The CIU students were joined by students of Benedict College and Columbia College for RAMServe on April 5. The Ram is the CIU mascot, but in this case, RAM stands for “Renewal Around the Midlands.”
In addition, students from CIU’s Christian school Ben Lippen, and local public schools joined in.
After an opening rally at Benedict College’s football stadium featuring Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and other local dignitaries, about 1,000 students and community volunteers disbursed for clean-up or maintenance tasks.
CIU Men’s Soccer Coach Bill Brindley was alongside his team has they picked up roadside trash in a neighborhood. He was asked how the service day fits in with coaching at CIU.
“I think it’s huge for the guys to give back,” Brindley said. “It’s big for the Columbia area to see CIU out and about and serving. This is what Christ would do, right?”
About a half mile away from the CIU campus, Mary Hockenberry was among several CIU students helping to rebuild the porch of a military veteran.
“Being a Christian university, we study a lot about the Bible and trying to become like Jesus, and be a reflection of everything He lived for and taught us,” Hockenberry told a local TV reporter. “And so RAMServe is a practical way to do that and get out in the community.”
Check out the local media coverage of RAMServe from:
CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.