Students at Monterey Bay Academy have decided to take their faith to the streets this year with the school’s new outreach program, Feed the Need.

With students leading out and searching for more community outreach opportunities, the student participation has grown dramatically since its inception in Spring 2005. According to academy Pastor Bryan del Valle, an active outreach ministry is a great way for students to grow in their faith.

“The Christian lifestyle is all about service,” del Valle says. “Feed the Need is important because it makes our students aware of the needs that are out there and teaches them to be compassionate and think of others. When we serve others, we’re serving Christ. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Sabbath afternoon activities include: homeless outreach — making and delivering sack lunches in Santa Cruz and providing blankets in Salinas; nursing home ministry; and, mini Vacation Bible School neighborhood programs.

“I love outreach ministries,” says Chris Hernandez, a senior from Visalia, Calif., and one of Feed the Need’s student leaders. “I feel that if it’s in my power to make someone’s day easier or better, I’m going to do it. A lot of people have helped me in my life, and I want to give something back.”

Often there are more volunteers than space available, with an average of more than 30 students participating on any given Sabbath.

“When we help people, they’re really happy,” says Kelly Chung, a sophomore from Bethel, Alaska. “We’re happy, too, because we feel like we’re making a difference, even if it’s something small. Instead of just hoping and praying that good things will happen, we’re actually doing something. That feels good, and it feels right.”

Even though the school year is now drawing to a close, the students involved want to make sure that the current excitement about ministry and service is not just a passing fad on their campus. The older students are encouraging more and more of the freshman and sophomores to give outreach ministries a chance.

“I want Feed the Need to continue after I graduate,” Hernandez says. “I want to come back in 10 years and find a group of kids serving the community and sharing their faith. I think that would be really cool.”

For more information about Monterey Bay Academy, go to www.montereybayacademy.org or contact Jason Mustard at 831-728-1481, ext. 1221, or info@montereybayacademy.org.