February 4, 2025 by

Cedarville is an incredible town. It is home to beautiful nature, well-known pizza, and an amazing university (of course!). But because of its size, getting involved in the community can feel impossible. What can I do? Where do I go? How do I fulfill my mission to go share the Gospel when the town’s population doubles in size every August with incoming students? Here are a few ways to jump in and serve while navigating your position as a student in a small town.

Explore the Involvement Fair

The Involvement Fair occurs every August right at the beginning of fall semester, displaying 100+ different opportunities for students to get involved both at school and the community. Student organizations, community outreach centers, churches, and others set up tents with all the information you need to get involved with them. You can narrow down your search for service in a few ways:

Figure out whether you’ll need a car to get there. If you don’t have a car, options in cities like Springfield or Beavercreek may be harder to reach without finding someone to carpool with. If you do have a car and don’t mind driving, check those places out and be a missionary in cities right near you!

Check out student organizations that participate in service activities. Some, like the Student Education Association, do two service events a year. Others, like Alpha Chi, go out a few times a semester. Review the requirements of joining each organization and jump in where you feel led to go!

Come prepared with ideas of what kind of service you want to do. Do you love kids and can commit to a year-long volunteer experience? Maybe you have a heart for students on other college campuses and are eager to see them come to Christ. No matter what ministry God has placed on your heart, the opportunities at the Involvement Fair will help you to, well, get involved!

Aeriel view of a grassy area filled with people visiting tables and tents at Cedarville University's Involvement Fair.

Utilize Work Study

The Federal Work Study (FWS) program is a chance for students to serve in the community while receiving compensation. The initiative is designed to encourage to work for the public interest — sounds like service! Off-campus tutoring is a popular FWS option. There are opportunities right across the street at Cedarville Elementary School and nearby opportunities at an after-school program in Springfield called The ARK (this organization has a tent at the Involvement Fair, so be sure to check them out!). Whether you have a car or rely on your feet, talk with your financial aid counselor to see if you qualify for FWS and learn more about this awesome way to serve the community. 

Participate in Volunteer Opportunities Around Town

Cedarville has opportunities throughout the year for students to serve right here in town! Each semester, Global Outreach hosts a town clean-up event called CU in the Ville where students can serve Cedarville’s community members by raking leaves, clearing gutters, and cleaning windows. This is a great opportunity to serve while getting to know some of the residents.

This small town also hosts Sidewalk Saturdays on the first Saturday of each month. With Main Street shut down, local vendors and community members will all come out to share in a celebration of good food, crafts, and friendship. Sometimes, volunteers are needed to help certain areas run smoothly. In December, Cedarville students were asked to read aloud to children! These small chances to serve are great ways to get involved while maintaining your busy student schedule.

Four male Cedarville students empty a tarp of leaves while doing yard work at a home.

Join a Church

And I don’t mean show up a few Sundays here and there — really plug in! Look into temporary membership or ways you can serve. There are many opportunities to serve in the church, including ministering to the children, leading a small group, or being a greeter. But don’t overlook the simplest part of community involvement, which is getting to know the people in it! Joining a church gives you a routine opportunity to connect with people that you otherwise would have never crossed paths with. You can invest in each other spiritually and invite them into your life! My church while at Cedarville has become my home away from home. I’m always greeted, seated, and treated to an amazing word from the Lord. As you are immersed in the traditions and routines of your church body, you will find more and more ways to serve, even if it’s simply picking up an elderly member every week and driving them to church.

Being a student certainly has its demands. Between classes, work, and hanging out with friends, it can seem impossible to add community involvement to the ever-growing list of things to do. These are a few simple ways to serve and be served by those around you. We are all missionaries cleverly disguised as students, employees, RAs, and so on. Each of us been called to GO! The more you get to know the community around you, the more opportunities you will have to serve in Jesus’ name.

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