Chaps help build Habitat House

Lubbock Christian student-athletes learn to keep athletic competition in perspective and realize that sport is a vehicle to other, more important endeavors, a medium through which to reach a wider audience, and an opportunity to serve

Posted 09.20.06

By Jake Rinehart, Lubbock Christian University Sports Information

As Lubbock Christian celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this academic year, the university has scheduled several special events to commemorate the milestone. During the next eighteen months, LCU and the city of Lubbock will host lectures, hold dinners, and welcome back countless former students and staff to help Lubbock Christian reconnect with its past as it looks forward to the future. Over the last few days, the first of those events took place as LCU built a house for Habitat for Humanity.

The structure, constructed on the LCU campus in the Johnson Hall parking lot and then moved to a permanent site at a later date, was built primarily using LCU students as the labor force. “We have almost every organization on campus…as well as over two hundred individuals signed up,” said Terri Warren of Alumni Relations. Included on that list of volunteers were several LCU athletes, who gave of their time in addition to their classroom and athletic duties.

Watching the Chaparrals go to work outside of the classroom and off of the playing field feels a bit strange to some who are used to seeing the Chaps either as students or athletes; nonetheless, the exercise puts into sharp focus one of the true blessings of being a part of Lubbock Christian.

As the years pass, memories fade, records fall, and trophies rust, but the ability to serve will forever remain. While it is true that some LCU athletes go on to pursue professional athletic careers, the fact is, most do not. With that in mind, Lubbock Christian strives to instill in its athletes the desire to be successful in other aspects of life, not the least of which their spiritual wellbeing and a commitment to others.

Watching the Chaparrals work in unison with other LCU students, faculty, and staff to help build a house for a family who needs a bit of assistance is truly a humbling experience. May we all be so blessed as to set a foundation better than we do a volleyball or swing a hammer better than we do a bat.

Most of all, may we learn to keep our athletic competition in perspective and realize that sports is simply a vehicle to other, more important endeavors, a medium through which to reach a wider audience, and an opportunity to serve our fellow man.

Much of this information included in this article is courtesy of Bree Monger and the LCU Duster staff. 

Top photo: Volleyball players Hayley Whiteside-Greer and Noelle Christensen

Middle photo: Athletics Director Paul Hise and Volleyball Player Brittany Hix

Bottom photo: Assistant Men's Basketball Coach Matt Paden and sophomore guard Layne Boxell

(Photo credits: Jake Rinehart)