Agape Love & a Tradition of Service

ByKim Watkins

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

John 4:9-11

The meaning of “agape love” in this passage comes not from the Greek language, but from the biblical understanding of God’s love. God is love itself; his character defines love. And because He is love, He acts with love toward an undeserving world to save us from our sins and reconcile us to Himself.

Our love for others is an outflow of God’s love for us. When we practice agape love, it is not a feeling that happens to us. Rather, it’s an action—a choice we make to seek the well-being of others without expecting anything in return. This imitates the very character of God. Our prayer for our students is that they understand Christ’s love for them in a fresh new way and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, are empowered to share that love with others, without expecting anything in return.  

Supporting the Ardmore RAH! is a wonderful tradition at Redeemer School, and this year we infused our tradition with the concept of agape love. We are grateful to everyone in our school community who participated in so many ways to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. Second Harvest serves as the major source of food for a network of over 430 partners throughout 18 counties of Northwest North Carolina. These partners include community food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

Mrs. Sabol and Mrs. Hill cheer for their fifth grade runners.

In the past, we have offered rewards for the grades with the most student race participants. This year, to intentionally consider agape love, we offered nothing in return. Instead, our students were encouraged to consider how many meals a race registration would provide our community. For every $10 received, Second Harvest can provide up to 70 meals for children, families and seniors. Drum roll please … we set a NEW record of student participants in the RAH! this year with 165 runners! Last year, we set a record of 132 students! 

Families also donated over 1,000 items to fill NINE donation boxes in our school-wide food drive. This week, our 7th Grade Servant Leadership class spent an afternoon serving at the Second Harvest Food Bank. They were able to see the impact of those donated items and worked diligently on assembly lines to prepare meals for our community.

The 7th grade servant leadership class served at Second Harvest Food Bank.

Whether it was running in the RAH!, encouraging along the way, serving at our booth, contributing to our food drive, or serving at Second Harvest Food Bank, all of these were opportunities for our students and families to share agape love and glorify God!