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What kind of mission work have your students been involved in? How have you seen it impact them?
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I have not been able to take students on a mission trip but I have taken my own children. We work with a homeless ministry in our city. Because of this work they have compassion for the lost and a desire to help.
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I have seen the students write encouragement cards to the people of the community who attended the church pantry and these people were blessed. The feedback from these people left an impact on our students to understand that they are not the only ones who are going through the same struggles.
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I have seen teenagers go to inner-city areas to conduct surveys which exposed them to different worldviews, some have helped clean up a new Christian school for those in our community that lack resources to afford Christian school. The experiences help them appreciate what they have access to and see that its not automatic that people are taught Christian ideas from God’s Word. When you’re growing up, all you know is your own experience and you believe everyone has a similar experience. That can make us impatient and lack empathy with others who are different. Being exposed to these ideas and people at appropriate ages helps grow biblical compassion.
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Some of my students have been in missions either at our school or at their church.
I feel the ones that have gone to countries considered third world countries have changed the most, as they have seen the needs and how we have plenty that others lack. Unfortunately, this new spirit and motivation tends to be ephemeral. -
I teach in a secular school, so the community interactions that students have are generally not faith-based. Different Christian educators on campus have, however, provided the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ by organizing several different service opportunities:
– pre-Covid, students traveled to a local nursing home on a weekly basis to sing and play musical instruments
– a letter-writing campaign to encourage and support veterans on active duty overseas
– fundraising activities for Make-A-Wish(r)
– making hand-made cards of support and encouragement for cancer patients around the US
– weekly visits to a soup kitchen to help prepare meals