The Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement

Agapé Center for LOCAL & GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

At Messiah, we value loving our neighbors across the street and across the ocean. The Agapé Center provides service and cross-cultural learning opportunities for students in local, domestic and abroad settings. The programs are as diverse as the students who volunteer and lead them. From playing games with local elementary kids in Dillsburg and befriending immigrants and refugees in Harrisburg, to conducting research at a hospital in Zambia and interning in London – there is something for everyone! As we collaborate with both domestic and international partner organizations who are helping meet unique and practical needs, our students learn about new perspectives and experience life-change as they put their faith into action.

With your gift, you can make sure Messiah’s tradition of loving our neighbors continues!

Ways your Gift Makes a Difference:

• $125 = one day of a student’s experience on the Poland summer service trip
• $40 = cost for one student to participate in a Fall Break domestic service trip
• $30 = supplies for a student leader during training week
• $20 = one no-sew blanket to assemble and donate to Bethesda Mission
• $15 = pen pal materials to write residents at Paxton Ministries
• $5 = transportation for student volunteers to Harrisburg for weekly local service

Current Local Partnerships include: 

Paxton Ministries

Fostering relationships with adults experiencing poverty, mental illness, or intellectual disabilities.

Salvation Army
Helping community members in the food pantry and assisting with the after-school program at Steelton Elementary.

PAIRWN

At Pennsylvania Immigration and Refugee Women’s Network we are assisting with after school program for local children whose parents are served through PAIRWN

Center for Champions

Mentoring 4th-12th graders in basic life skills, academics, and their Christian faith.

Bethesda Mission

Supporting a variety of programming in the Harrisburg area, like helping to deliver meals and basic needs supplies to individuals experiencing homelessness, serving meals in the Men’s Shelter, or volunteering with the after-school program at the Bethesda Community Center.

Messiah Lifeways

Forming one-on-one relationships with a resident at the retirement home, connecting with a larger population.

New Hope Ministries

Helping with a ministry a little bit closer to Messiah’s campus by volunteering locally in support of the programs that NHM offers to residents of the West Shore.

Young Life

Serving as Young Life leaders to bring Christian ministry to high school and middle school students at five different school districts in the area.

Current International Partnerships Include:

Food for the Hungry

Helping to alleviate poverty by serving vulnerable populations around the world through leading purposeful relief efforts, working alongside local leaders, providing life-changing resources, and facilitating community development.

Polish Christian Ministries

Partnering with Polish Christians in planting churches, providing resources, and building relationships to create and sustain healthy, growing, self-supporting and reproducing congregations.

Join us in this mission to make these opportunities available for all students across campus. Your financial help allows students the ability to go where God leads them both locally and internationally. Thank you!