Trevecca Nazarene University announces four mission trips
Trevecca students will have several opportunities to live out their faith and minister during the 2016-2017 academic year, both at home and abroad. Jasmine Hiland, coordinator of TAG and campus ministries, revealed information about the Trevecca Around the Globe (TAG) trips and destinations in chapel on Oct. 17.
Students will minister at home and abroad, with trips planned for Chicago; Monterrey, Mexico; Manila, Philippines; and Belgrade, Serbia. According to Hiland, these trips aren’t just chances to travel, but rather opportunities to see how God is at work in the world.
“These are the trips where you catch a vision of what God is doing in the world,” Hiland said. “Our hope is that our students understand that God is at work all over the world, and that they catch a greater vision of who God is.”
The trips will also allow students to participate in ministry in a variety of settings, from urban ministry in Chicago to aiding refugees in Serbia. Hiland purposefully planned the trips this way, hoping to immerse students in cultures and contexts that were not their own.
“We want students to understand that ministry can look very different in different cultures and contexts,” Hiland said. “On a lot of these trips, we’ll be visiting a variety of ministries addressing the same needs, but in different ways.”
Most of all, Hiland hopes the trips help students gain greater perspective of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ.
“When things happen on other sides of the world—like in Syria or Haiti—it’s our body that’s hurting. It’s not separate from us,” Hiland said. “I hope that these trips break open our students’ worldview, that they don’t see ministry as a two-week trip, but as a vital part of their journey.”
Monterrey, Mexico
Set for March 4-10, this trip allows students to serve over spring break. Led by Matt Toy, associate vice president of marketing, and his wife, Melissa, students will work with Back2Back ministries, an international Christian non-profit organization dedicated to orphan care.
Chicago, Ill.
Led by Brodrick Thomas, coordinator of student engagement and diversity, this two-week trip will allow students to partner with various ministries, organizations and churches seeking to respond to issues of poverty, homelessness, racial injustice and more. Students will experience a variety of cultures and engage in the reconciling work of Christ. While a specific date is yet to be decided, the trip will take place during the summer.
Manila, Philippines
Planned for May 2017, students will join with Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary and churches in Manila to minister to children at risk. Students participating in this trip will serve in some of the poorest sections of Manila, offering help to those who are hungry, poor or overlooked. Jason Adkins and Sara Hopkins will lead the trip, which will also include working with ministries focused on environmental care and poverty alleviation. This is a summer trip, likely to take place right after graduation in May.
Belgrade, Serbia
Students will work closely with Nazarene Compassionate Ministry’s Refugee Response Team, comprised of four recent Trevecca graduates. The team’s work is focused on finding ways to restore hope, humanity, dignity and community to the refugees. Students will work to meet the most basic needs of the refugees, but also work to build relationships. Dr. Kathy Mowry, professor of intercultural studies at Trevecca, will lead the trip, which will take place in May 2017.
The application deadline for this year’s trips is November 7. Students can find the application here. For more information about the trips, visit www.trevecca.edu/TAG.