by Karina Brady, Student Public Relations Writer
When Cedarville University students depart campus for spring break, March 2-10, nearly 200 students will serve people in four domestic and 11 international Global Outreach missions trips.
Cedarville students, faculty and staff have been taking missions trips during spring break since the 1970s. Most of these trips focus on medical care, youth and children’s programs and construction projects.
This year, a new trip, led by Jeff Gilbert, assistant professor of journalism, will depart for Trinidad. During this trip, broadcasting, digital media and journalism students will create video projects that missionaries will use to share with their supporters and increase awareness about their work.
Their efforts will help missionaries connect with hard-to-reach people groups. “This is a unique opportunity to train students in visual storytelling and expand their vision for the mission field,” said Gilbert. “The work we do will continue to benefit the missionaries in prayer and financial support long beyond our time there.”
— Jeff Gilbert
Four teams will travel to domestic locations, including Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; and New York City. Teams will also visit 11 international locations: Dominican Republic; Eleuthera, part of the Bahamas; Chimaltenango and Fraijanes, Guatemala; Haiti; Honduras; London, England; Malawi; Mexico; Peru; and Trinidad.
“The world still has great need and the gospel still needs to be presented. And there’s something special about college-age students being able to go out and share the gospel,” said Brian Nester, director for global outreach.
The teams are led by Cedarville faculty, staff, students and local church missionaries. The team leaders are experienced on the mission field and have attended numerous training sessions to prepare for the trips.
All participating students will attend a general training session in February and continue with weekly team meetings between January and March. They will learn about the culture of their mission field, practice team-building exercises and communicating the gospel, prepare fundraising letters and pray together. Some of the international teams will also learn language basics.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.