Students Serve the Community Through Carpenter’s Hands

At Taylor University, service is a core value that fuels student involvement. One outreach program, Carpenter’s Hands, supports the community through practical service projects and relational ministry to impact the way our neighbors live.

The program partners with Taylor World Outreach (TWO) and was led by students Abbie Cormier, Mia Slane, and Austin Snively this past school year. The three connected over a shared vision of engaging the student body in new ways and began leading the program. Since then, more than 100 students have been involved.

“Our desire from the start was to provide opportunities for students to be the hands and feet of Christ in our local community, specifically for those with physical and spiritual needs,” Snively said. “I've been so grateful to witness both students and community members be blessed and encouraged through the ministry of Carpenter's Hands.”

Relational Ministry

Carpenter’s Hands has seen the Lord’s hand in a variety of ways. As they served at a local soup kitchen, they saw a need for more Bibles to hand out to patrons and initiated a Bible matching campaign. In the end, Carpenter’s Hands provided nearly 600 Bibles. It was beyond Cormier, Slane, or Snively’s expectations. Through it, the Lord confirmed that He would use their ministry to touch the lives of their neighbors.

Carpenter’s Hands engaged in several other service projects, connecting with community members to build impactful relationships. From fixing a roof to painting rooms to working in a soup kitchen, the Lord abundantly blessed the ministry with opportunities to serve.

“Being a small part of the work God is doing was a blessing. It showed me of the joys of Christian community and service alongside brothers and sisters in Christ,” Slane said.

A key part of what ministry means to Carpenter’s Hands is that it is never one-sided. Through Carpenter’s Hands, students and community members come alongside one another and bless each other.

“Carpenter’s Hands represents what is possible when compassion meets consistency and practicality,” Cormier said. “Ministry was never designed to be one-sided, but rather a collaboration within the Kingdom of God. It’s where we get to come together as co-laborers rather than separating those who serve from those who are served, all while keeping Christ’s redemptive love at the core."