Lives Changed by Spring Break Missions Trips
From refugees to inner-city youth, from remote villages to big cities, spring break was a time for serving others and sharing the Gospel.
They visited hospitals, served the poor, shared their faith and made an impact domestically and globally. And many responded to the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s how 154 Cedarville University students, four faculty and staff members, four alumni, and three mission staff spent their recent spring break, March 2-10.
Global Outreach missions teams served in 10 international locations including the Dominican Republic; Eleuthera, part of the Bahamas; Chimaltenango and Fraijanes, Guatemala; Honduras; London, England; Malawi; Mexico; Peru; and Trinidad. Four teams served domestically in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; and New York City.
— Brian Nester
Throughout the week, students impacted these communities by providing medical services, youth and children’s programs and construction assistance. More importantly, they shared the Gospel with thousands of individuals and encouraged resident missionaries in their ministries.
“This is what we train our students, faculty and staff to do, to meet real needs — physical and spiritual — with refugees, in needy neighborhoods, in small villages and large cities,” said Brian Nester, director for global outreach. “Our students are partnering with long-term missionary staff and learning that what they’re doing is part of a bigger eternal story that God is carrying out.”
In Fraijanes, Guatemala, nine students, one faculty and one staff member served four days in a clinic, helping nearly 1,000 patients. “We partnered with Caring Partners International and the local Guatemalan church, who provided workers to register the patients and were trained to give the Gospel to every person who attended the clinic before they received medications,” said David Peters, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, who led the trip.
According to Peters, 112 people received Christ for the first time or rededicated their lives to Christ. "I was thrilled to see so many responses to the Gospel,” he said. “How rewarding to meet the medical, emotional and spiritual needs of that community. I was also very proud of our team and the way they tirelessly served and shared their faith with confidence and compassion.”
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.