New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s spring Serve Day offered students and faculty the opportunity to faithfully volunteer in the local community and share the hope of Christ. 

This semester’s Serve Day, taking place Thursday (Feb. 20), saw more than 200 participants engaging in a variety of evangelism efforts and service projects around the city.

Andrew “Ted” Williams, assistant professor of expository preaching, kicked off the day with a chapel address in the morning.

Williams shared out of Deuteronomy 29:29, which he said implores us to trust God in the secrets things but be faithful in the things that God has made clear.

“Revelation must produce results,” he said. “Orthodoxy without orthopraxy or doctrine without devotion is simply educated idolatry. What is revealed must be obeyed. It must be put into action.”

Williams said Serve Day is a chance for the NOBTS family to put this principle into practice.

“Students of NOBTS and Leavell College, you’re here because you are preparing to serve the Lord ... that’s why events like today’s Serve Day are important,” he said.  

“There are things that God has revealed which we must do. The things that you learn about in class, the things that you’re studying about, the things that you’re learning, are you willing to put these things into practice not just on Serve Day but as a servant for the rest of your life?” 

After chapel, 12 different groups of faculty and students went out into the community to complete a variety of service projects and engage in evangelism on an unusually cold New Orleans afternoon.  

Multiple groups did prayer walking and evangelism through various neighborhoods. Other groups served at local community centers, while others did clean-up projects throughout the city.

 After the projects were completed, the groups gathered in the Luter Student Center to share highlights of their time serving.  

Rebekah Callahan, assistant dean of students for the office of student life, spoke about her group’s time serving at the Baptist Friendship House, a compassion ministry of the New Orleans Baptist Association (NOBA).

The Friendship House helps meet basic needs for the hurting in the New Orleans community, often survivors of sex trafficking.

Fifteen missing children around New Orleans were recently united with their families as a result of a joint effort between the Friendship House, several from local SBC churches, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Send Relief and many others.  

These reunions happened in the days leading up to the Super Bowl (Feb. 9), which is understood as an event that often increases the volume of trafficking in the host city.  

Callahan said her group was grateful to help the Friendship House prepare to serve the vulnerable in the New Orleans community.  

“I just told them that we’d be praying for their ministry as they’re caring for a population that really needs our love and support,” Callahan said. 

Tara Dew, wife of NOBTS President Jamie Dew and director of the seminary’s Thrive ministry wives program, shared about her group’s time fellowshipping with senior citizens at a local living facility.  

“We had the best time,” Dew said. “We just got to talk and play with the people there. We got to minister to the workers there as well. It was a neat time. We just wanted to be faithful with our time there.” 

Thomas Strong, vice president of spiritual formation and student life, expressed his gratitude to the students for their service.  

“I’m just really proud of you all,” he said. “You’re not just talking about it, but you’re willing to live for Christ in this city. You’re not just wanting to get a degree but you’re willing to be used by Christ to make a difference here.” 

Strong said sometimes evangelism and service are just about being faithful to do what God has called you to do and leaving the results up to Him. 

He challenged the students to continue to keep their thoughts towards the people they served.

“If there was somebody that you met or saw today that is stuck in your mind, let’s make a commitment to be in prayer for that person,” Strong said. “Pray that God would continue the ministry you’ve done to plant the seeds that He can still use.”

NOBTS President Jamie Dew closed out the debrief time echoing the day’s theme of faithfulness.

“This is always one of my proudest moments for the seminary, to see our people going out and doing these things," Dew said. "Our job is to be faithful. It’s always our job is not necessarily to win someone over or try to fix certain things, it’s just to go and do what we’re called to do and be who we’re called to be.”