One thing I am proud of about Clear Creek is the fact that we focus specifically on practical ministry training for our students. The ministry training a Clear Creek student receives is not just “theory based.” Our students learn a lot about ministry outside of the classroom by actually doing ministry. Our students quickly learn that ministry is a marathon and not a sprint. Going the distance means that we do what we need to do to meet the needs of the people who God calls us to serve.

First year student Collin Coots recently participated in a Love Loud Community Outreach at East Barbourville Baptist Church in Barbourville, Ky., where Clear Creek Director of Christian Service Josh Smith serves as pastor. Pastor Smith used this outreach opportunity to give Coots and some of his classmates some practical ministry experience.

“It is truly a wonderful thing to see God’s children working together as the body of Christ to help one another and meet one another’s needs both physically and spiritually,” recalls Coots. “The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, ‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.’ I was privileged to be able to witness what this scripture looks like in action at East Barbourville Baptist Church during their Love Loud Ministry.

This was a truly wonderful ministry to be a part of as a young minister and as a student of ministry. I was inspired and very thankful to see God’s people showing the love of Christ in such a way. Jesus said in John 13:34-35 that ‘we are to love one another just as He loved us, and that by this all people will know that we are His disciples if we love one another.’ The love of Christ shone brightly through this ministry.

“In Jesus’ ministry we find that He did not only meet the physical needs or the spiritual needs but rather, He met both,” says Coots. “Jesus meets all of our needs as only He can. The Love Loud Ministry was a ministry that provided for both the physical needs and the spiritual needs of people. The fellowship hall at East Barbourville Baptist Church was packed full of groceries that the church gave away to people in the community. They had different food items and other household groceries all sitting on tables. Everything was set up in a way that, as the line of people came through, they would take a cart and gather whatever they needed from each table. When each person reached the end of the line, someone would help them push their cart to their car and also help load the groceries.”

“I was a part of a group of students from Clear Creek Baptist Bible College that helped push the people’s carts to their cars, as well as load the groceries into their car,” says Coots. “In this, I am reminded that Christ gave us the ultimate example of servanthood when He ’emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant’ (Philippians 2:7). This was a wonderful privilege because it gave us an opportunity to serve our neighbors and let the light of Christ shine. As we would push the carts out to each person’s vehicle, we were given a great opportunity

to share the good news of Jesus Christ and pray with them. We were all rejoicing that there were five professions of faith during this ministry outreach. I was thankful to be able to take part in such a wonderful ministry.”

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Donnie Fox is president of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College.