-
What kind of mission work have your students been involved in? How have you seen it impact them?
-
The school I teach at requires that all students participate in a service trip. The school arranges many different trips that all take place the week before Spring Break. The service trips range from feeding the homeless, to cleaning up camps getting them ready for campers, to building houses in Mexico, to working with schools and students in Central and South America, and many more. This is my second year teaching at this school and will be my first time going on one of the trips. The Mexico trip has been going on for many years and parents whose students have long graduated and alumni students often accompany current faculty and staff on the trip. The experience of building what amounts to a large shed – a one bedroom home that does have electricity but does not have running water – is very humbling for adults and teens alike. The family who is receiving the house often helps the students build and I have heard stories about the families providing food for the students, they are so grateful. The last day is usually very emotional for everyone. This is the day that the students hand the keys to the house over to the new homeowners. We live in a very affluent community, and I believe this experience is very eye-opening for the students. The families do not have much, and the house being built would not even be considered a home in America but they are just so thankful to have a real roof over their heads. While students experience many new situations, the opportunity to serve less fortunate and to bond over the experience with their peers keeps them coming back year after year.
-
Our students do local mission work and this year will start international mission work. They currently assist with the local CHEW program for food and help with other ministries. It impacts them because they feel pride with helping their community, but also it exposes them to people in our community who may not be as blessed as they are.
-
Even though I am in a secular school, we partner with a Christian organization. Each elementary grade level has part of this umbrella organization. My students learn about the ministry, come up with a way to raise money for them and plan the entire event (soccer tournament, craft fair, dance-a-thon), research the products they need to purchase for this ministry, and then we go there, deliver what we purchased for them and work at the ministry. Students have washed walls, planted flowers, organized baby clothes, cleaned screens for windows, done lawn work, and laid gravel for walking paths. Even my son, who was in grade 3 last year, mentioned his classmates became slightly less annoying after they served at the ministry last year. They don’t complain while we are there, they learn working can help people, and their eyes are open to a less affluent lifestyle. It changes them for the better and they actually enjoy it.
-
We have served at local ministries in the Indianapolis area. Serving those who are less fortunate always reminds us how blessed we are.
-
I have worked with students in cross-cultural missions trips here in the U.S. and abroad. I have supervised students running day camps, VBS programming, and leading at full week-long overnight Christian camping experiences. These experiences, though short in light of eternity, are foundationally affecting the worldview of the students. Their eyes are off themselves for a time period, they serve, give energy, time, talents, and money to those who need it, and God is honored by this. Students have shared the impact, and many have said it’s been instrumental in their desire to work in full-time Christian ministry. All return changed for having participated. My own four children have had similar opportunities, and I’m thankful that, as adults, they consider service to others a fundamental exercise of their faith.