Leaving the College Bubble: ORU’s Ellie Ransdell Discusses Homeless Outreach and How It’s Changed Her Life
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Theatre for Healing
Every university is, in a sense, a bubble. Walk onto any campus in America, and you’ll find housing, dining, entertainment, and security. In a limited space, a student has everything they might ever need.
But that’s not what makes it a bubble.
A university is a bubble only if you treat it that way; it’s a matter of choice. For ORU’s Ellie Ransdell, the choice is to step outside the bubble and extend her college experience beyond borders. She believes that to truly grow in college, you must step away from campus and step into your community.
“You can be in a town your entire life,” Ellie said, “and you won’t truly live in
it unless you see every part of it. Beyond campus, there’s a whole world that needs
our love. Giving back to your community while in college is an opportunity to change
yourself. It's not necessarily about what ministry you're supporting or your level
of contribution or whether you're a leader or not; it’s about your willingness to
give your time to those who need it most. When you do this, your perspective is forever
changed.”
"Beyond campus, there’s a whole world that needs our love. Giving back to your community while in college is an opportunity to change yourself."
Trapping Yourself with What’s Comfortable
As a member of ORU Outreach, Ellie currently serves as outreach coordinator for Thursday Night Lights, a ministry founded by the Tulsa Boiler Room. In this role, Ellie helps organize weekly gatherings that bring together students and volunteers to feed and pray for Tulsa’s homeless. Growing up in Tulsa, people often warned Ellie to be careful of the homeless and to avoid them when possible. Ellie says that this type of mentality—a mentality of fear—is what keeps you in your comfort zone; it’s what traps you in your bubble.
“My generation,” Ellie said, “has a fear of discomfort. A lot of people my age won’t put themselves in a position to be uncomfortable. We’re continuously told to find what works best for us, to focus on what we like. This holds back students because they refuse to step out and into the world. You have to push through the hard things in life, or you’ll never be able to do the impactful things.”
Outside her comfort zone, Ellie has made friends in Tulsa’s homeless community. She knows their names and their needs, and through ORU Outreach, a bridge has formed between her two different worlds. And while she spends her Thursday’s feeding the homeless, Ellis says the work isn’t just about food; it’s also about seeing people’s hearts.
“Few people,” Ellie said, “want to listen to the homeless and learn their stories. But every homeless person who comes to Thursday Night Lights has a reason for being there. They have a story to tell. Every week, I have the opportunity sit at a table and talk to homeless individuals. Every individual has their own complicated reasons for living on the street, and whatever the cause, they’re now unable to take care of themselves. For me, hearing these stories is one of the most shocking and beautiful things about Thursday Night Lights.”
Get Out of Your Bubble: The World Needs You
So how do you convince a college student to step outside their bubble? How do you convince someone to leave the classroom and serve a community that needs their help? These questions aren’t just for ORU students; they’re for all college students in America. In answering, Ellie acknowledges the typical uncertainties … e.g., serving is a tax on one’s time or the homeless community is scary. However, she says serving doesn’t have to be difficult because at the bare minimum, all you need to offer is kindness.
“Outreach,” Ellie said, “is about loving people. It’s an opportunity to bring a smile to those who need smiles. In a safe way, ORU provides students a way to connect with those in need, and if you participate in outreach, you’ll be changed. Maybe homework or commitments are your excuses, but if you have the ability to stay in your dorm room and play video games, then you also have the ability to give back and make an impact for God’s Kingdom.”
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 160 nations from 2019 to 2024 to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
