Amanda Zechman

A Servant's Heart

I believe Christ calls each of us to serve others. Serving is not just for recognition but an act of the heart. We are all called to take part in service so I try hard to use the gifts God gave me for that purpose.

I did not always have a servant's heart. The deeper I grew in my Christian faith, though, the more I realized how selfish I had become. In college I was drawn to Christ and to His desire to serve the community. As I grew to understand my faith I wanted to learn more about serving others.

In fall of 2003 I went to New York City to serve in a soup kitchen. There I was an upper class white woman who had no clue what the people in poverty were facing.

As I shared bread with the people and talked with them, I learned that they were just like me. They were seeking to find meaning, truth and love in their lives. As I talked with the guests at the soup kitchen and heard their stories I realized I was receiving as much as I was giving them. I especially remember Ron, an illiterate homeless man who had worked for a hotel for sixteen years before he was replaced by someone who could read. Ron asked me to read a letter from his doctor and as I did I fought back tears. The letter told Ron of the doctor's many attempts to reach him. Ron's heart was failing it and he needed to get medical attention immediately. Four months later I went back to serve and Ron had passed away.

After I left the soup kitchen I realized my heart had changed. I cared less about what I wanted and started to care more about those living in poverty. This has led me to do more service both in college and beyond. Through all these experiences serving has become a way of life for me. Sometimes, when I catch myself in selfish habits, God works in mysterious ways to maintain my servant's heart.

About Amanda Zechman

Amanda Zechman serves as Campus Minister. She first came to Mercyhurst in 2005 as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in the Service Learning Office. Her favorite aspect of Mercyhurst is "encouraging students to live out the core values of being Socially Merciful, Globally Responsible, Compassionately Hospitable, Intellectually Creative, Reflectively Aware, and, last but not least, Ambassadors of Service. Watching the students live this out is inspiring and hopeful. Creating an environment where it is safe will hopefully inspire them to continue to live these values upon graduation."