By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News
PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Hundreds of Louisiana Christian University students, faculty and staff spent Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 6, giving back to the Central Louisiana community that has blessed the college so much.
SendLA is held each semester and begins with a send-off during Chapel service, before groups are split up by organizations for an afternoon of service.
“SendLA is about more than what we accomplish in a single day; it is about the change that happens in our students when they are serving others,” said LCU President Mark Johnson. “This semester, our students served throughout Central Louisiana, neighborhoods, nonprofits, the Red Cross, pregnancy centers and other community organizations.”
Participating organizations included Tioga First Baptist Church; Main Street Mission, Pineville; Rolling Hills Ministries Thrift Store, Pineville; Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville; Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria; Rapides Parish Library; Cenla Pregnancy Center, Alexandria; Family of Grace Church, Alexandria; Hope House, Alexandria; Food Bank of Central Louisiana; Fostering Community, Alexandria; and Faith Baptist Church, Tioga. Johnson led an evangelism team and nursing did a campus prayer walk.
Emma Allison, a sophomore social work major, volunteered at Fostering Community’s care closet, which provides clothing for foster families.
“Foster kids and their families came in while we were there, and they were excited to pick out new clothes and just to get a new pair of socks,” she said. “It was a great opportunity to actually see those who benefit.”
Preston Worley, a sophomore psychology major, and Hy’Keem Mix, a freshman business administration major, spoke on the opportunity the event gave them to not only make connections in the community and with other students, but to have fun and show leadership skills while doing it.
An evangelism team, led by Johnson, traversed Main Street from LCU to the Jackson Street Bridge, ministering to people and praying for the people and businesses along the route.
Hadassah Townsend, a freshman elementary education major, was in that group and said it was a great opportunity for her to be bold and share the Gospel.
“Our students see firsthand that leadership means serving, and our community sees that we are committed to being a good neighbor,” Johnson said. “From prayer walking, evangelizing, landscaping, painting, and various community projects, a day like this each semester is so important. We are not only educating students for careers; we are developing Christian leaders who understand that their faith should move them to serve and share the Gospel.”
SendLA is an initiative begun by Johnson in the spring of 2026. It is rooted in Matthew 28, where Jesus commands His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Once each semester, the campus steps outside the classroom and into the community to serve alongside local organizations and ministries.
SendLA, which is sponsored by SEND Network Louisiana and Louisiana Baptists, takes place every fall and spring semester. Other organizations that would like to be involved are encouraged to contact the university.
