In order for us to be the light of the world, we must often work in the shadows. That’s what the new Grace Horizon campus ministry is all about. Coordinated by Kelsie Marker and Audrey Weiger, Grace Horizon demonstrates the endless horizon of God’s grace and love to people recovering from violence and exploitation by showing up for them in a way that is often overlooked.
“There’s also the behind-the-scenes work that helps people to get to where they need to go,” said Marker. “We’re working for the people who are hurting, and if we don’t do it, nobody will do it.” Currently, Grace Horizon helps with organizing, packing, providing and moving items for people who’ve faced exploitation or violence, doing an important and laborious task with love and showing them a life they often don’t believe that they deserve.
“Anything that you do and any effort that you put in can change somebody’s life.”
– Kelsie Marker
Marker is a junior at AU who majors in psychology and youth ministries and minors in social work and nutrition. Having a passion for people since she was a child, her original path to studying exercise science began to change at the end of her sophomore year when she began to work with Frontline Response: a Christian-based non-profit rescuing people and vulnerable children out of sex trafficking and homelessness.
She was inspired by the building of relationships and trust in order to help them get off the streets along with the “after” of helping them build their lives into something that they deserve. After her junior year of helping at Frontline Response, God changed her path from exercise science to working on majors that reflect her passion for people, a change that she feels at peace with. Her passion for people was then realized as a beautiful fit for the role of leading Grace Horizon.
A great mission begins with small steps. Grace Horizon is starting from the ground up, dipping its toes into helping people in gaining basic necessities and slowly building up a picture of what it will be. As Marker put it, you have to be flexible and open to a change in plans. For now, the work is concerning the “behind-the-scenes” sphere of helping people such as the Closet, an initiative that will provide essentials such as clothing, dishes, interview outfits and other necessities that they would immediately need.
Grace Horizon’s current mission is a lesson in understanding how we can create an impact in people’s lives and shine a light in the darkness. It teaches us not to underestimate the power of small acts and gestures and calls us to make just the tiniest effort in showing up for someone who may be going through hardships.
No matter how small it may seem, you are making an impact.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can email Marker at kamarker@anderson.edu. Grace Horizon is held every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Park Place Community Center, which is located behind the Morrison dorm.