On April 23, Houghton College will celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day by hosting a string of events that will transpire throughout the day.
The first event is an outdoor chapel featuring Scott Saben. Saben is the executive director of Plant with Purpose, a nonprofit, Christian ministry that aims to spur on spiritual transformation by planting trees and advancing economies in developing countries. Saben is also the author of Tending to Eden, described by the publisher as “an invaluable resource for environmentally conscious congregations and community groups” that is a “practical guide for creation care.”
Eco Reps member Brielle Kwarta ’19, expressed her anticipation for Earth Day, saying, “I am really excited to listen to his chapel talk and learning more about his work and his passion towards creation care…God created this beautiful Earth for us and it is our duty to protect it!” Dean Michael Jordan added, “I am hopeful that students get a better sense of how their love for God should translate to a love for and respect of creation!”
In addition to the outdoor chapel service, Webb, who is the coordinator for the entirety of the Earth Day/Arbor Day events, has organized volunteer projects throughout the day in order to “beautify the campus around us.” The projects include adding twelve trees to the apple orchard, cleaning up the trail after the recent, big storm, picking up trash, and mulching.
“The goal is to get people outside and enjoy God’s creation by actively taking care of what we have, what we’ve been blessed with,” commented Webb, “and to build community in the process.” Interested students can sign up for 2-hour time slots by following the link attached to Webb’s campus-wide email, sent on April 12.
According to the campus email, there will be a free picnic dinner on the quad, open to the public as well as Houghton students, staff, and faculty.
The picnic will also feature live music and the presentation of the “Caretaker of God’s Creation Award.” This award will be presented to the person “who actively incorporates creation care and Biblical earth stewardship into both their personal life and their participation in the Houghton College community.” Students, staff, and faculty are all eligible for this award.
Kwarta, along with other eco-reps leaders Tyler Cline ’19, Marissa Hollinger ’18, and Sarah Vande Brake ’19, will help “facilitate the discussion” during the informal discussion session with Saben. The discussion will take place in the Van Dyke Lounge in the evening. Saben will be answering questions about PWP, “environmental stewardship, economic development, and spiritual transformation,” according to the campus-wide email. Free coffee and tea will be provided.
According to Webb, PWP has planted 23 million trees over the course of two decades. “Plant With Purpose’s programs equip farming families around the world to increase farm yields, heal damaged ecosystems, improve nutrition, and increase household savings and opportunities,” the organization’s website states. “This integrated approach solves two major issues facing the world today: environmental degradation and rural poverty.” As a result, the organization seeks “to stand with the world’s most vulnerable.”