For as long as there has been an American story, there has been a story of service shaped by faith.
From early settlers to modern ministries, generations of believers have answered a consistent call: to care for the sick, feed the hungry and serve their neighbors. As the United States celebrates 250 years, that legacy remains embedded in the nation’s institutions, communities and ideals.
Scott Guffin '88, PhD, associate professor and executive director of Samford University’s Department of Christian Ministry, sees that legacy not as a relic of the past, but as an enduring thread—one that continues to shape both public life and personal calling.
Below, Guffin reflects on the historical roots and ongoing significance of faith-based service in America.
Faith’s Foundations in the American Experience
Q: From your perspective, what role has faith-based service played in shaping American communities over the last 250 years?
A: Service that has its roots in the Christian faith is more imbedded in American society, culture and communities than the average American might know or even imagine. Many of the good things about American society that people around the world hail as bright and positive global contributions have their foundation in biblical principles that have inspired and shaped the lives of believers since the momentthey were uttered by Christ to His followers. Handed down through the centuries by the faithful to the faithful—values such as morality, generosity, justice, mercy, service, compassion, voluntarism and altruism—came to characterize Americans to the extent that it has often been said that America is great because she is good. Even the most foundational pillars of our republic, like individual freedom and equality are grounded in sentiments expressed in our Declaration of Independence that ring with biblical echoes, referring to the “equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle” us and noting “that all men are created equal” and “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Ideals such as these can be found even farther back historically in the political ethos and practices of the early English Puritan settlers of America. In his work Democracy in America, the 19th century French ambassador and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville highlighted that the Puritans “brought to the New World a Christianity” that he characterizes as “democratic and republican,” as the enacted such basic American principles as representative self-government by the people. Thus, it is all but impossible to avoid the understanding that America, from the outset, has been shaped and molded by Christian values and ideals.
Institutions Built on Service
Q: What do you see as the most enduring contributions of ministry-driven efforts to education, health care, social reform or community life?
A: Many of the most notable American institutions trace their founding and establishment to Christians who were driven by biblical principles and values. Harvard, Yale and Princeton were founded by Christians who sought both to provide higher education and to train ministers to serve in the New World. The groundwork for modern medical healthcare in America was established by Catholic and Protestant groups, driven by the scriptural mandate to care for the sick. Even today, many hospitals maintain a faith-based connection, often reflected in their names (St. Jude, St. Vincent’s, Baptist Health, Good Samaritan, Lutheran Hospital, etc.). Other Christian-based organizations such as Goodwill, Catholic Charities USA, Children’s Aid Society and the YMCA were founded as Christian entities intended to serve the indigent. The ideals that led to the founding of these are seen in more modern expressions in organizations like World Vision, Compassion International, and Samaritan’s Purse. Caring for orphans, which is called “religion that is pure and undefiled” in James 1:27, has also been a rallying cause for Christians, as seen in the large number of Christian-based orphanages and children’s homes across America. A focus on justice has likewise been a marker of the Christian faith. While many of the faith were historically complicit in the promotion and defense of terrible injustices like the institution of slavery, there were many others who preached and promoted abolition, including the Quakers, Presbyterian minister Lyman Beecher, revivalist Charles Finney, and Baptist minister Francis Wayland. The Second Great Awakening (1795-1835) directly led to the rise of antislavery sentiment in America, as it became increasingly viewed as a great moral and national evil.
A Constant Calling in Changing Times
Q: How has the expression of faith-based service changed in response to cultural, social or political shifts?
A: The bigger question may be how it has remained the same despite the shifts in our society. While they may be expressed in different ways in differing eras, the great virtues that characterize followers of Christ will always find themselves directed toward the serving of others. The church is at her best when she is turned outward, loving, caring for and serving others as Christ commanded. Our primary calling is seen in the command to love God with everything in us, but Jesus notes that the second greatest command is to love others as we love ourselves. If we keep both in place and in the right order, we will do well.
Why Faith-Based Service Still Matters
Q: Why does faith-rooted service continue to matter in contemporary American society?
A: First, it continues to matter because the needs of human beings never go away. Jesus said, “You will always have the poor with you” (Matthew 26:11), and history has proven this saying to be true. In a fallen and unredeemed creation, there will always be the poor, the needy, the sick and the victims of injustice. Thus, there will always be the need for Christian compassion, care, mercy, service, generosity and altruism. Second, the call of God to the faithful hasn’t changed. Jesus told us that whatever we have or have not done for “the least of these,” we have or have not done for Him (Matthew 25:35-40). The things He specifies that we should do are to feed the hungry, provide drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and imprisoned. Addressing such issues is a natural outflowing of our faith, and James would say is an indicator that it is a real and living faith (see James 2:15-17).
Lessons for the Future
Q: Are there lessons from historical models of ministry that are especially relevant for communities today?
A: There are certainly lessons to be learned from our historical predecessors when it comes to serving others unselfishly, giving generously, caring for others compassionately and seeking justice righteously. One great lesson that must never be lost, however, is that each of these traits does not stem from a vacuum but rather emanates from the heart of a loving God who set the tone for each of us by giving the greatest sacrifice that we might have eternal life in Him. Perhaps the greatest lesson is that we must never divorce our service from the Gospel that stands at the heart of it all. Instead, we should always remember and emphasize that our greatest and most selfless efforts at serving others reflect and point toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are at our best when we seek to address the greatest need of all human beings—to be reconciled to their Creator through faith in Jesus Christ.
As America reflects on 250 years of history, the story of faith-based service remains a vital part of its past—and its future. At Samford, that tradition continues as faculty and students alike are equipped to serve with both conviction and compassion, carrying forward a legacy shaped by faith and sustained through action.
