New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s fall 2026 Serve Day offered students, faculty and more the opportunity to volunteer in the local community and share the hope of Christ.
This semester's Serve Day, taking place Oct. 1, saw more than 300 students, faculty, local church members and campus guests engaging in a variety of service projects and evangelism efforts across New Orleans.
Afternoon classes were cancelled as participants went out into community to serve in various locations around the city.
The day began with a chapel message from Matt James, senior vice president for business administration and assistant professor of historical theology.
James spoke about the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13.
“Jesus modeled his love for the disciples through service,” James told the audience in Leavell Chapel.
“Christ’s love for you is inseparable from His service toward you. And your love of Christ will be demonstrated in your service to Him and those around you.”
Combining the day’s theme of service with the semester’s chapel theme of faithfulness, James presented six observations from the text about being faithful in service.
After chapel, different groups went out into the community to complete a variety of service projects and engage in evangelism. There were 24 different ministry sites where groups served, and several new ministry sites were included during this semester’s event.
Multiple groups did prayer walking and evangelism through various neighborhoods. Other groups served at local community centers or churches, while others did clean-up projects throughout the city.
Participants gathered in the Luter Student Center later in the afternoon to share some highlights of their time serving in small groups.
Thomas Strong, vice president of spiritual formation and student life, briefly addressed the crowd.
“I’m thankful for your hearts and for going out to serve today,” Strong said. “Every time that we go out it is a reminder that we really are servants and servanthood is who we are as a seminary.”
NOBTS President Jamie Dew thanked the crowd for serving and reminded them of the importance of service to the Christian life.
“I want to express my gratitude to you for taking this moment seriously,” Dew said. “Thank you for signing up and going out to do all of this hard work.
“These are the kinds of things that are easy to talk about doing, but also very easy to blow off. Every last one of us have things going on today that we could have easily used to justify not being here doing this. But you did not do that.
“I think it’s important as a Christ-follower that you be very disciplined to do what you’ve done today. We have to be intentional to put feet to faith and actually serve, and not make an excuse or rationalize getting out of it. It is not just about what you believe, but it is also what you intentionally choose to go and do.
“Remember that this is just one day and one moment, but we are called to a life of service. My challenge to you is to live in obedience to Christ every single day.”
