Volunteering can help build relations and strengthen one's productivity. Some people happily volunteer out of the kindness of their own heart, others do it for resume-building purposes. To the Ignite campus ministry at Southeast Missouri State University, a willingness to help others comes from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Ignite is a student-led ministry and its purpose is to help other organizations and groups of people around the world. The ministry was established by the La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau in 2008.

"It's very beneficial to not only the people we're helping, but to our group as a whole. The students may experience something similar here in this country," Waters said. "The trips I got to take when I was younger were so formational for me. I know the role they can play in impacting the students as well."

Jeffrey Waters, pastor of Ignite, said the church's goal is not to increase the number of participants for the church, but rather be a positive influence for the student body at Southeast.

"Our goal is to not be recruiters for La Croix Church," Waters said. "We are here to be of unity on Southeast's campus where students of all religious backgrounds can connect with us and grow in their faith."

Waters graduated from the University of Georgia, where he served as a minister for two years at the UGA Wesley Foundation. His faith with Christianity was greatly impacted during his time in Athens, Georgia. After four years of college, Waters earned his MDiv, the first academic degree of a religious profession.

"In the process, our students get to experience Christianity outside the comfort zone. Last year we sent a group of students to the Ukraine to work with a group of local people," Waters said. "It was kind of surreal because six months after we left the war in Kiev broke out. It shows students how real turmoil conflict is in the world."

At least once a semester the students of Ignite take an international mission trip. Some trips include renovation projects, while others provide a way for students to bond with other communities.

"Last year we took a group of students to Peru. There are established missionaries there who work to teach sustainability," Waters said. "They have prior relationships, we come and partner with these people to add to the work that's being done there."

During the summer, Ignite plans to extend its services to an orphanage devoted to fostering children in the name of Jesus Christ.

"In June we are going to Guatemala. We will be working with an organization our church has been connected with for many years called New Life Children's Home," Waters said. "We are going to go and focus on the teenagers who sometimes are left out, and we will get to invest in them."

The trips are planned according to where Ignite members feel they could help make a lasting impression. There are no boundaries as to where they look to visit.

"I always ask, where in the world can we go and have a beneficial impact on our host," Waters said. "What are the things we have to offer that'll actually be of assistance to them and not a burden?"

Aside from building relationships and establishing community involvement, Waters said being a positive influence around the world is one of the greatest feelings while serving. The ministry prides itself in nurturing those in need.

"We can always walk around and tell someone Jesus loves them, but if you don't speak the hosts language that's not going to have too great of a lasting impact," Waters said. "The larger impact is being able to build relationships which have a sustainability to them. This helps raise up leaders in those places, where they can continue to spread the message that Christ has died for all of us and God loves them."