Lee University is in the midst of their annual Missions Week with a number of activities and projects on the Cleveland, Tennessee campus.
The week involves projects, speakers, fund-raisers and awareness-building among the 4,400 member student body. The focus country this year is Haiti. Much of what takes place this week will focus on the ministry there and how students can participate in aid to the earthquake-ravaged country.
Dr. Douglas LeRoy, general director of Church of God World Missions, spoke in the Tuesday chapel in Conn Center where he told of the on-going work of the church in Haiti. On Thursday in the Conn Center, there will be a celebration service featuring the Lee Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Mark Bailey and the Lee Chapel Band under the direction of Dr. Brad Moffett.
On Tuesday across campus in the Dixon Center the Lee University family heard about the Restavec Ministry, which works in Haiti dealing with the problem of child slaves. On Thursday, Operation Christmas Child will detail some of their work delivering Christmas Boxes in Haiti.
Part of the Missions Week emphasis is on prayer. Each night at 9 p.m., there will be a special prayer emphasis. The entire Lee family has been encouraged to pray for the needs and the people of Haiti.
At the Paul Conn Student Union this week, there will be many exhibitors who have come to connect with students, faculty and staff. Exhibitors include who work to spread the Gospel here in the USA and abroad.
Globe banks placed strategically across campus are an additional way the campus is supporting Haiti…through spare change. Lee faculty and staff, as well as students, have been encouraged to have the world globe penny banks with a “Lee for Haiti” placard placed on desks and in works areas. The loose change collection campaign will continue through January 2012.
“Lee for Haiti” missions week T-shirts are available in the campus pastor’s office, the proceeds of which also benefit the Haiti project. . At the Thursday chapel service, students are being encouraged to wear their shirts where more than 50 flags on the stage (one for each country represented by the student body) will be on display on the stage.
“It will look like we are waving the Haitian flag!” stated Campus Pastor Jimmy Harper. “We look forward to seeing a flood of the red and blue Haitian flags to reinforce the idea that Lee is For Haiti! We want to be a part of rebuilding, restoring, and renewing after all the devastation.”