Summer Missions Teams To Serve in Asia, Africa, Europe and the USA
This year, 43 UC and seminary students will be going on missions trips to Asia, Africa, Europe and the USA. Tyndale is excited to see growing numbers of students interested in international missions with participation more than doubled from last year.
The purpose of the trips is to give students an opportunity, “through evangelism and discipleship”, to partner with local churches and missions groups and to provide exposure to various ministries and cross-cultural missions. The trips are organized by Dave Roberts, Tyndale Missions Mentor and Associate Dean for Intercultural Initiatives. Dave will be accompanying the team to Zambia, where he spent 12 years working as a missionary.
Four teams will be returning to Thailand, Japan, Zambia and Alaska; and one team will pioneer a partnership in Ireland. The trips, which are 3-4 weeks long and run from May through August, provide students with the opportunity to explore hands-on ministries like health or education.
In preparation for their trips, the students meet weekly to pray together and grow as a team. As these students take a bold step of faith in sacrificing free time and potential job opportunities, Dave Roberts offers encouragement for students to rely on God, "If the decisions and plans that we are making are not moving us into greater dependence on God, I would suggest that we need reevaluate the decisions and plans that we are making." Summer missions trips are an incredible opportunity for students to trust God in providing the finances, building the team and working through the students as they serve.
While participating in the 2011 trip to the Dominican Republic, Alex Staines, Local Outreach Coordinator for the UC Student Council, and her team ran a children’s program at an orphanage, did relational and street ministry, and sought to bless their host families. Alex notes, "It was so special being able to experience Dominican with the team…There was so much support from Tyndale."