Spring Break Campaigns have returned, though they are structured differently and are on a much smaller scale.
SBCs began in 1976 when a group of ACU students went to Guatemala in response to an earthquake. The program transformed over the years into a multi-city, multi-country mission effort.
Last year, confusion struck as the SBC program was tossed around between the Center for Christian Service and Leadership and the Halbert Institute for Missions. In lieu of the campaigns that involved hundreds of students, the CCSL facilitated a local alternative, Service in the City.
Three years ago, Mary Beth Cuevas, associate director for ACU Leadership Camps, was appointed as adviser for SBCs but played a small role planning the trips. This year, she is one of four faculty and staff members who have teamed with students to travel to four destinations with ACU.
“As an adviser, I attended one of the Chapels just to have an adult there,” Cuevas said.
Cuevas was then asked to take a larger role in the program, but the timing proved to complicate things.
“They wanted me to do them after all of the hoopla (last year),” she said. “Then, nobody signed up. It was kind of struggling.”
Now, Cuevas has teamed up with Laura Combs, junior early childhood education major from Cedar Park and president of Treadaway Kids, to plan a campaign to Houston.
“We are working with alumni at each site,” Cuevas said. “I’m working with some alumni in Houston to kind of plan it. Basically, alumni are planning it but with my input.”
Cuevas, also the adviser of Treadaway Kids, approached Combs about the opportunity to help plan the campaign to Houston.
“I went to Laura when I found out we’d be working with kids because that’s one of her passions, so I asked her if she would help me with it,” she said.
Each of the four campaigns will focus on helping the communities that each group travels to.
Jake Hall, senior second grade education major from Springtown, is in charge of the Denver campaign with Jan Meyer, dean for student development and executive director of the Center for Christian Service and Leadership.
“We’re still nailing down specific plans, but we’re planning on going to local churches and tackling issues in the community like poverty and homelessness,” Hall said.
The group will work with Lakewood Church of Christ minister Reg Cox as well as with the children of Foothills Elementary School.
“We hope to give them a Summit experience, too,” Hall said. “We’re partnering with Reg Cox who will teach how to partner with the community and tackle community issues. It’s still in the works.”
The idea to go to Denver was formed last year when Meyer proposed the idea. Hall was eager to join because he had been to Denver before and knew of Cox.
“I went to Denver last year for a conference,” Hall said. “When Jan told me about the ideas she had, I jumped at the chance.”
The other two groups will travel to The Bronx, New York, and Dallas CitySquare to carry out similar campaigns.
Students who travel to New York will work with The Beekman House serving children and their families, and students journeying to Dallas will link up with ACU Justice and Urban Studies Team to launch a food truck in the South Dallas food desert.
For more information or to register, visit http://www.acu.edu/campusoffices/ccsl/ministry-service/wildcats-serving/spring-break.html, or contact a student leader.
