2008 Woodie Awards
Jan-term mission teams prepare
Andrea Taylor
Issue date: 11/11/04 Section: Feature
- Page 1 of 1
"Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?" This question seemed all-important for contestants on the game show that bears its name. The all-important question at southwest Baptist University in January will be: Where in the world are SBU students?
The answer for a number of students will be India, Guatemala, Senegal, Cambodia, Turkey and Houston, Texas. These students will be a part of SBU's six January mission teams.
The group heading to India Dec. 30 and returning Jan. 14 is being led by SBU alumni and admissions representative Sean Smith. His group of 13 will be doing door-to-door evangelism and tent revivals in the city of Chandigarh. Diana Gallamore, director of University Missions, said anywhere from 50 to 400 people attend the revivals. She also said, in the past, groups using this type of outreach have seen large numbers of people make professions of faith.
The group heading to Guatemala is hoping to reach children living in orphanages. A group of 15, headed by SBU juniors Darren Farris and Leah Visosky, will arrive in the South American country Dec. 8, and return to the U.S. Jan. 15.
The group heading to the country of Senegal in West Africa Jan. 3-19 will also be student-led. Josh Wilson, leader for the trip, said he went to Senegal in 2003. He said this year's trip will be different from last year's because last year he and others worked with the Bread of Life project. He said the Sereer people received bread with the plan of salvation on the packaging; his group then spent time with the people group and inquired about their understanding of the plan. This year, his group will divide into two groups. One group of five will visit a village Wilson's team visited last year and disciple the people. The other group of five will visit another village and show the Jesus Film.
Gallamore and others traveling to Cambodia from Dec. 30 to Jan. 15 will also be visiting villages. Gallamore said the group will "work within the strategy of the mission contacts." She said the group she is leading will work in elementary schools, go prayer walking and provide health and hygiene programs. Their main goal will be to build relationships for the missionaries on the field. She said her team of 11 may have the opportunity to "see the harvest," or they may "plant seeds," but she understands the harvest will come because of the work of those already on the field and not her group alone.
Nicky Ward, director of discipleship ministries, will be leading a group to Istanbul, Turkey. Ward said Istanbul is the only city, that lays on two continents - Asia and Europe. She also said, "Turkey is 99.6% Muslim." She said the people say, "'to be born Turk is be to Muslim.'" She explained that Istanbul has from 10 to 12 million residents alone, but only 2,000 in the entire country of Turkey profess to be Christians. She said Turkey is intriguing because many events surrounding the early church occurred in and around Turkey. Today, very few there know about Christ.
She said, though the people call themselves Muslim, they do not live their beliefs because they are influenced by western culture. Her team of eight will work to dispel some of the myths the Muslim students have heard about Christians. "Christians hear about Muslims and their beliefs from other Christians," she said. "Muslims hear about Christians from other Muslims." She said her group will spend Jan. 1-22 telling students attending universities in Istanbul the truth about Christianity.
SBU students will also be displaying the truth of Christianity in Houston by serving children and youth. This group of 14 will be led by seniors Nate Harris and Bobbie Baysinger. They will leave Jan. 3 and return Jan. 17.
Gallamore said every student participating on these six mission trips meets once a week during the fall semester to prepare. The training the students receive at this meeting is unique for their type of mission. The students also commit six hours on one Saturday before the trip to train. The training includes cross-cultural evangelism, a time of worship and a game relating to the culture of the country the students will be visiting.
According to Gallamore, the countries selected for the mission trips were chosen for different reasons. India, Turkey, Cambodia and Senegal were chosen because they are places where people have not been reached.
Gallamore also said students have responded well to trips involving children. The Guatemala trip is geared toward allowing students to work with children.
All of the countries to be visited in January have a variety of needs, which must be met by people with a variety of different talents. Therefore, students with varying talents can find a place to serve.
All of the students participating on the mission trips have made a commitment to serve.
The answer for a number of students will be India, Guatemala, Senegal, Cambodia, Turkey and Houston, Texas. These students will be a part of SBU's six January mission teams.
The group heading to India Dec. 30 and returning Jan. 14 is being led by SBU alumni and admissions representative Sean Smith. His group of 13 will be doing door-to-door evangelism and tent revivals in the city of Chandigarh. Diana Gallamore, director of University Missions, said anywhere from 50 to 400 people attend the revivals. She also said, in the past, groups using this type of outreach have seen large numbers of people make professions of faith.
The group heading to Guatemala is hoping to reach children living in orphanages. A group of 15, headed by SBU juniors Darren Farris and Leah Visosky, will arrive in the South American country Dec. 8, and return to the U.S. Jan. 15.
The group heading to the country of Senegal in West Africa Jan. 3-19 will also be student-led. Josh Wilson, leader for the trip, said he went to Senegal in 2003. He said this year's trip will be different from last year's because last year he and others worked with the Bread of Life project. He said the Sereer people received bread with the plan of salvation on the packaging; his group then spent time with the people group and inquired about their understanding of the plan. This year, his group will divide into two groups. One group of five will visit a village Wilson's team visited last year and disciple the people. The other group of five will visit another village and show the Jesus Film.
Gallamore and others traveling to Cambodia from Dec. 30 to Jan. 15 will also be visiting villages. Gallamore said the group will "work within the strategy of the mission contacts." She said the group she is leading will work in elementary schools, go prayer walking and provide health and hygiene programs. Their main goal will be to build relationships for the missionaries on the field. She said her team of 11 may have the opportunity to "see the harvest," or they may "plant seeds," but she understands the harvest will come because of the work of those already on the field and not her group alone.
Nicky Ward, director of discipleship ministries, will be leading a group to Istanbul, Turkey. Ward said Istanbul is the only city, that lays on two continents - Asia and Europe. She also said, "Turkey is 99.6% Muslim." She said the people say, "'to be born Turk is be to Muslim.'" She explained that Istanbul has from 10 to 12 million residents alone, but only 2,000 in the entire country of Turkey profess to be Christians. She said Turkey is intriguing because many events surrounding the early church occurred in and around Turkey. Today, very few there know about Christ.
She said, though the people call themselves Muslim, they do not live their beliefs because they are influenced by western culture. Her team of eight will work to dispel some of the myths the Muslim students have heard about Christians. "Christians hear about Muslims and their beliefs from other Christians," she said. "Muslims hear about Christians from other Muslims." She said her group will spend Jan. 1-22 telling students attending universities in Istanbul the truth about Christianity.
SBU students will also be displaying the truth of Christianity in Houston by serving children and youth. This group of 14 will be led by seniors Nate Harris and Bobbie Baysinger. They will leave Jan. 3 and return Jan. 17.
Gallamore said every student participating on these six mission trips meets once a week during the fall semester to prepare. The training the students receive at this meeting is unique for their type of mission. The students also commit six hours on one Saturday before the trip to train. The training includes cross-cultural evangelism, a time of worship and a game relating to the culture of the country the students will be visiting.
According to Gallamore, the countries selected for the mission trips were chosen for different reasons. India, Turkey, Cambodia and Senegal were chosen because they are places where people have not been reached.
Gallamore also said students have responded well to trips involving children. The Guatemala trip is geared toward allowing students to work with children.
All of the countries to be visited in January have a variety of needs, which must be met by people with a variety of different talents. Therefore, students with varying talents can find a place to serve.
All of the students participating on the mission trips have made a commitment to serve.
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