Azusa Pacific University places strong significance on serving others locally and globally. The Office of Service and Discipleship offers a wide range of ministry and service opportunities for students to take part in, and students also go out of their way to help others through their own passion for ministry. Aaron Lakeman ’28 committed to APU as a cross country and track and field athlete, but as his relationship with the Lord grew, so did his devotion to serving others, particularly those experiencing homelessness.
Lakeman has always loved running, so cross country and track and field were a big part of his life, particularly in high school. Lakeman committed to the Air Force Academy but was medically disqualified soon before the school year was supposed to start. He decided to take a gap year, and when an old teammate already attending APU reached out and suggested that Lakeman take a look into the university, he decided to follow his friend’s advice. After meeting with the track and field coach, Lakeman decided to commit to APU. “I fell in love with the culture the coach was creating with the team,” he said. “Although he left before I came to APU, I fell in love with this community and my faith has skyrocketed. My experience at APU has been better than I ever could have imagined.”
An injury during his gap year left Lakeman unable to participate in athletics for six months, but his teammates constantly encouraged him and allowed Lakeman to grow in his faith in a supportive community. “We prayed after races, did a Bible study together, and shared prayer requests,” he said. The team even organized a special meeting to surprise Lakeman with prayer and words of encouragement before he started competing again. The team’s deep rooted community of faith creates a positive environment where every team member, coach, and trainer support each other athletically, personally, and emotionally.
After completing a class project on people experiencing homelessness, Lakeman felt
a calling to put his faith into action. He texted his friends from the team to see
if they had any extra meal swipes, and together they were able to fill 37 to-go boxes
with food from the dining hall. “We drove for hours giving out food to people experiencing
homelessness, praying for them, and talking to them about the Gospel,” he said. Since
that first experience, Lakeman has continued to participate in unhoused ministry by
himself and with the help of his friends. “It’s meaningful and impactful work, and
I have heard so many stories from the people that I talk to,” he said.
Lakeman’s continued interactions with the unhoused population has allowed him to further develop in his faith while encouraging others to do the same. “These people often feel hopeless, like their life lacks purpose or meaning,” he said. “God would not wake us up today if He didn’t have a purpose for us and something that He wanted us to chase in the future. As Christians, we should do what we can to help even if that’s just reminding people that God loves them.” Lakeman reached out to assistant athletic director Bethany Blomquist who provided him with 50 Bibles. He handed out the Bibles to the unhoused people he talked to and is currently looking to get more so that he can continue to share the Gospel with them.
During his time at APU, Lakeman’s passion for serving others, relationship with God, and love for cross country and track and field have opened up a variety of potential career paths and goals for him. Lakeman said he’s considered being a pastor, coach, teacher, or principal as well as pursuing marketing and business, running, and going on mission trips. “I love people; I’m very outgoing; and I’m very passionate about the Lord,” he said. “I want to be in a job where I can comfort and love others while sharing the Gospel loudly. I’m not sure exactly what I’ll end up doing, but I know I’ll honor the Lord through it all.”
Lakeman shared many of the impactful and inspiring encounters he has had through his time participating in unhoused ministry and plans to continue growing in his faith and sharing God’s love with others. “I’ve heard hundreds of stories from having intentional conversations with people during this ministry, and I’ve learned that reaching out and building relationships with people can change your life if you just take one bold step,” he said. “Coming to APU was a bold step that has forever changed my life.”