Alumni News - Hannibal-LaGrange University

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ReflectionFall03.qxd 9/22/2004 4:28 PM Page 12 THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL by Brandy Campbell • Public Relations Staff Writer The world population is currently more than six billion. Of those, an estimated 700 million have heard and believed the gospel. That number pales in comparison to the estimated three billion who haven't even heard the Gospel. College students play a critical part in spreading the Gospel to those who have not heard it or believed it. Between 1998 and 2000, students assigned to International Mission Board (IMB) sponsored projects multiplied nearly 500 percent. In 2000, more than 3,500 college students served in more than 100 countries. "There is a hunger and thirst for God's glory to be revealed among the nations," said Scott Chafee, an IMB employee who works with the Journeyman program, which enables students just out of college to go overseas and serve for a period of two years. "Students have the opportunity to go overseas on summer experiences and then return to mobilize others into action," continued Chafee. "Students are mobile like never before, flexible in their lifestyles, passionate for a cause, committed to something that is worth their time and energy." "Already for 2004 we have positions for 16,000 students that have been requested by our field personnel," added Felicity Burrow, also of the IMB. "After all, in the year 2000, 47.7% of the world population was under 25. Who better to reach the young people of the world for Christ than young people who follow Him" Hannibal-LaGrange College has sought to attract students who are interested in missions. In 2001 they began offering a missions minor, and over the years support for student missions has increased. However, even before mission programs were the norm, HLG students were seeking out ways to serve. BUILDING A FOUNDATION Kate Vanskike Smith, a 1996 graduate of HLG, remembers when school-sponsored mission trips didn't exist. This didn't stop students from taking to heart the words of Matthew 28:19. "When I began at HLG in 1991, there were no college-sponsored mission trips, but there was a handful of students who decided, independently, to participate in missions," said Smith. "In 1993, Dr. Martha Bergen took a small group of Christian Ministry students to a student missions conference in Urbana…and I am positive that every single one of us responded to the overwhelming challenges presented and became active in missions the following year." Soon, the college began to take notice of the growing number of students participating in missions, and they began coordinating a spring break mission trip and forming partnerships with other missions organizations. HLG now sponsors trips over every school break, and sends out summer missionaries. While the hands-on experience is essential to understanding the importance of missions, Smith was quick to add that programs were not the foundation of the missions movement at HLG. "I believe it's the faculty members, not the programs themselves, at HLG that were truly instrumental in equipping students as missionaries during my time there," said Smith. "Dr. Bob Bergen fostered my ‘I can take on the world' attitude, often encouraging me to take leaps of faith that other people thought were simply crazy choices! Yes, more than great Bible programs or fantastic instruction, the people at HLG equipped me for missions, and for life." TRAIN UP A CHILD... As HLG seeks to train students to be missionaries, they must also educate students on how to be effective on the field. Lonnie Nelson, a professor at Hannibal- LaGrange, has served in the former Soviet Union, Middle East, and Central Asia. Now, he teaches business and philosophy classes, in addition to an international missions class, at HLG. "College students are definitely valuable to missionaries on the field," said Nelson. "One of the primary advantages of these students serving for a few weeks, or maybe during the summer, is that these students are more likely to serve as career missionaries," explained Nelson. "Nothing is more valuable in mission work than experience. It gives students a passion for missions, and it helps them to catch a vision." "I see HLG becoming more mission focused because of several factors," concluded Nelson. "We have a strong leadership that is passionate about missions. We offer a lot of hands-on experience. We have the missions minor, and we're working on the missions center, which will help train missionaries. All of these things combine to develop an ethos, a character, and a reputation as a school where students can prepare for missions. By the time they graduate they will have a foundation and the experiences to help them understand missions." ANSWERING THE CALL Current students eagerly take advantage of the missions opportunities and classes offered at HLG. Jay Sauser, a senior, is currently serving as the student missions coordinator. Sauser has been on mission trips to Switzerland, Italy, and Mexico, and has also been a member of New Edition, HLG's repertory theatre group. "We need to take advantage of every opportunity we have to share Christ," said Sauser. "As a college student, I don't have to be worried about being tied down to a family or job. My attention is not divided between a wife and God...I can be totally focused on Christ. College is a time when students find their purpose and vision." "I've learned a lot about myself doing missions, and I “...the people at HLG equipped me for missions, and for life.” --Kate Vanskike Smith ’96 definitely want to continue to have some part in missions after I graduate," continued Sauser. "I know that God is totally in charge of that. He has given me a thirst and a hunger, and I simply want God to use me." Christy Phillips, a junior business major, is also eager to serve after college. She hopes to move to Asia and work among the people in that region. "I've learned that I need to live each day as if it were the last day I can tell people about Christ–the message is that urgent," said Phillips. "Too often I find myself living like I’m just waiting for the time God calls me overseas. But God calls us to live in the right now." "HLG has prepared me for what I feel God is calling me to do," she continued. "They have offered so many classes and experiences to help me to understand what I believe. I want to go to Asia and be a business person and live as part of a community. If I live a life that reflects God, it will speak to the people around me. The passion I see in Christians there inspires me to not be complacent. I just want to go where I see God working and join Him there." “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...” -Matthew 28:19 12 H A N N I B A L - L A G R A N G E C O L L E G E R E F L E C T I O N S 13
ReflectionFall03.qxd 9/22/2004 4:28 PM Page 14 Knowledge for Service by Rhonda Hufty • Director of Public Relations Summer Missions - 2003 Awe Star When Anna Murphy was asked what she will always remember about her recent mission trip she replied, “Jesus + Nothing = Everything!” Murphy was part of a group of students who traveled with Awe Star Ministries this summer to work in small villages in Gambia, Africa. Her luggage never reached Gambia, so she survived an entire month with the clothes on her back and her small carry-on bag. “We picked up our luggage while we were leaving Africa,” added Murphy. “God provided what we needed.” Murphy was involved with a group of eight students who shared the gospel through “storying.” The students were trained to break down the Bible from creation to Pentecost and tell the story of Jesus to the Gambians in a way they could understand. “The excitement of going into a village where they had not heard that Jesus died on the cross for them,” was what attracted Murphy to this trip. She lived in a tent among the people, working with them in the fields and helping the women cook. “It gave me great opportunities to share with them,” said Murphy. Rejection was part of Murphy’s everyday experiences. The verse 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 was a great comfort to her: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” Murphy concluded, “I was rejected nearly every time I shared with someone, but I knew I was doing my job by planting the seed and praying someone would come along and water it and God would make them grow.” Camp Team T Every summer HLG sends a team of students to lead camps for associational, state and regional mission programs. These camps vary and include girls’ camp, boys’ camp, children’s camp, and youth camp. This year’s sixmember HLG Camp Team packed their bags and hit the road every Monday morning as they headed to different parts of the state or regional areas to begin a camp serving in various ministry positions. Depending on the camp director’s needs, the camp team filled positions as camp pastor, camp counselors, recreation leaders, kitchen patrol, music, and drama leadership. “We’ve done it all! One week I even served as camp director,” said Rachel Marquette, junior at HLG. Camp team members experienced varied conditions each week, but were always familiar with mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, musty bunkhouses, no air conditioning, sunburns, camp food, late nights, and early mornings. “Every week we dealt with life experiences,” said Jeff DeVorss, sophomore at Hannibal-LaGrange. Along with the usual cases of homesickness, the camp team counseled young people who were struggling with personal and family issues. “The burdens some of these kids are carrying on their shoulders reminded me that the burdens I have to carry aren’t so heavy,” said DeVorss. Not only did the team minister to campers, they met the needs of one of their own. Dawn Baker experienced a personal tragedy this summer with the death of her grandfather. Baker received the news midway through a camp and left to go home to be with her family. She joined the team the following Monday to begin a new camp. “The team called me twice a day to check on how I was doing,” said Baker. “I felt all of their prayers.” “It was a humbling experience,” smiled DeVorss. “I’ve learned to be a servant this summer,” he continued. “I’ve made a lot of great friends and relationships and some leaders have asked me to come help in their churches.” DeVorss plans to be involved with mission teams this fall and participate in weekend retreats. Tom Hufty, Vice President for Collegiate Affairs and Camp Team Coordinator, was pleased with this year’s Camp Team. “Because of the way God worked in and through them, half the team has already volunteered to serve again next year.” Switzerland/Italy Mission TripT Thirty-six students and sponsors spent the day of our nation’s birthday in the Swiss Alps. The flag flying over the building was not the stars and stripes, but the white cross of the Commonwealth of Helvetica. Majestic fireworks paled in comparison to the beauty of the setting of the European Baptist Convention’s youth camp in Grindelwald, Switzerland. HLG has partnered with the European Baptist Convention (EBC) for the past five years to provide leadership for EuroVenture, an Englishspeaking youth camp for Baptist churches in Europe. More than 300 students from 19 European countries are involved in the camp. Participants in EuroVenture include U.S. military kids, IMB missionary kids, youth of overseas corporate companies, youth of international diplomats, church youth groups, and their friends. Students provided leadership as Bible study leaders, recreational leaders, kitchen staff, drama leadership, and worship leaders. “I helped wherever I was needed,” said Sarah Carlisle, Christian Education major at HLG. Sarah Bruggemann ’03, served as camp nurse. “I was able to use my nursing degree on the trip for the camp,” added Bruggemann. “It was wonderful to be able to combine two of my passions, nursing and camp ministries, to serve God.” At the end of camp, HLG students boarded an overnight train to Italy. The team joined IMB missionary, Dudley Graves and his family in Viterbo, Italy. The next three days were spent working with the Graves family in prayer walking ministry and Bible distribution. Phillip Barlow, Resident Director of Crouch Men’s Dorm, was humbled by the experience. “Prayer walking around the city walls of Viterbo reminded me of Joshua and the walls of Jericho,” said Barlow. “God miraculously tore down the walls of Jericho, and He can tear down the walls we have put up around our hearts.” The team led in Sunday morning worship at Rome Baptist Church, Rome, Italy. The church, located in the shadow of the Pantheon, reaches out to internationals and immigrants who make their home in Rome. Dave Hodgdon, pastor of Rome Baptist Church, welcomed the team and invited them to return. “The kids did an outstanding job, both at camp and here in Rome,” added Hodgdon. “I hope we can work together again.” Hufty, who served as the mission trip coordinator, concluded, “From the mountain glaciers of Switzerland to the ancient ruins of Italy, HLG students are reaching teenagers and encouraging believers.” Sports Crusaders “I’ve played soccer for the past 19 years of my life, so when a combined effort of sports and ministry came along, I was all over it,” said Jeff Heeley, a senior HLG student. Heeley, a three-year Sports Crusader, was a member of one of the 15 teams that traveled this past summer throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Sports Crusaders is a sports evangelism ministry that uses sports as a tool to build common ground with children in order to share Christ’s love and moral principles. The week-long camp is designed to teach elementary age students fundamentals of the game and of the Christian life. Each day, skill-specific drills were taught followed by “Half-time,” a 20-minute Bible lesson shared by a Crusader. On Thursday of each camp, the plan of salvation was shared and the campers were given an opportunity to respond. Scott Speer, senior Business Administration major, spent his summer on the basketball court. “God allowed me the opportunity to use basketball as a way to share the gospel with children,” said Speer. “Our God is a mighty and awesome God that will use weak and feeble people like me because He loves me and wants me to bring glory to Him,” said Speer. Christianne Wildman, a senior communication arts major, traveled across the state leading cheerleading clinics for Sports Crusaders. Her three-member team spent four to five hours each day teaching cheers and building relationships with camp participants. Wildman smiled as she shared her summer experiences, “So many people I meet thank me for ‘giving up’ my summer, but what they do not realize is that I haven’t ‘given up’ anything,” said Wildman. “I am just being obedient to our Heavenly Father.” Several host churches provided lodging and additional witnessing opportunities for the Sports Crusaders teams. The summer 2003 teams reported 216 decisions for Christ. 14 H A N N I B A L - L A G R A N G E C O L L E G E R E F L E C T I O N S 15
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Alumni News - Hannibal-LaGrange University

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