Students Mentor At-Risk Youth in Xenia
Students mentor at-risk youth through Global Outreach partnership
Cedarville University students are mentoring young people who need a second chance in life. Through a connection forged by Cedarville University’s Global Outreach office, students are spending 90 minutes a week interacting with and mentoring youth in the Greene County Juvenile Detention and Treatment Center in Xenia, Ohio.
The center acts as a halfway house for youth who have violated the law and require special attention before reentering society.
“It is a special thing to show love toward young people that society might judge as lost or hopeless,” said Hannah Cloyd, a junior nursing major from Greenville, Ohio. “The youths we mentor know that they can ask for advice and talk about issues they might not be able to talk about with others.”
Students also accompany the youth on hiking trips and hold special movie nights throughout the semester.
Although Cedarville’s students aren’t there overtly to share the Gospel, the troubled youth do sometimes bring up spiritual matters. Recently, a girl from the center prayed to accept Christ into her life.
“That is ultimately why we do what we do — to make an impact for the Gospel,” said Peter Schoenhals, a junior middle childhood education major from Archbold, Ohio.
As Dawson Nelson, a sophomore exercise science major from Brazil, Indiana, explained, Cedarville’s Global Outreach ministries offer many opportunities for Cedarville students to impact local communities through service and Gospel-driven interaction. “With Cedarville,” said Nelson, “there are plenty of options to show Christ’s love to the community.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
The center acts as a halfway house for youth who have violated the law and require special attention before reentering society.
“It is a special thing to show love toward young people that society might judge as lost or hopeless,” said Hannah Cloyd, a junior nursing major from Greenville, Ohio. “The youths we mentor know that they can ask for advice and talk about issues they might not be able to talk about with others.”
Students also accompany the youth on hiking trips and hold special movie nights throughout the semester.
Although Cedarville’s students aren’t there overtly to share the Gospel, the troubled youth do sometimes bring up spiritual matters. Recently, a girl from the center prayed to accept Christ into her life.
“That is ultimately why we do what we do — to make an impact for the Gospel,” said Peter Schoenhals, a junior middle childhood education major from Archbold, Ohio.
As Dawson Nelson, a sophomore exercise science major from Brazil, Indiana, explained, Cedarville’s Global Outreach ministries offer many opportunities for Cedarville students to impact local communities through service and Gospel-driven interaction. “With Cedarville,” said Nelson, “there are plenty of options to show Christ’s love to the community.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.