Through the work of Missions In Action (M.I.A.) at Olivet Nazarene University, students have several summer opportunities to show Christ’s love in a variety of places. They work alongside faculty and staff members to enhance the work of churches, orphanages and nonprofit organizations. Ashley Rosenberger serves as M.I.A. director, assisted by Susan Morrill ’15.
Trips happening during summer 2018 are:
South Africa — Led by Phil and Dr. Denise Anderson
The Andersons lived and ministered in South Africa for eight years. On this trip, ministry will be in three distinct cultures, assisting local churches with Holiday Bible Club as well as outreach on the streets of Johannesburg. The team will stay in homes to experience fully the beauty of the people and culture.
Honduras — Led by Erinn ’13 and Professor Kelsey Proehl ’13, Danielle Maranion ’18 and Drew Kline ’18
Students travel to Honduras for approximately eight weeks to serve as interns with Footsteps Missions, our partner organization. They will work with children at the Garden of Love and Hope. This is an economic orphanage that provides supplementary education, Bible classes, meals, mentoring, godly examples of leadership, and love to support and sustain impoverished children in the beautiful mountain town of Santa Barbara. Summer interns at the Garden also host multiple short-term mission teams from churches in the United States. They will have the opportunity to interact with and love on the children, as well as to encourage and support the staff. The intern team will work with the Garden’s staff to create a weekend camp focused on fun and spiritual growth for the children.
Panama — Led by Dr. Neal and Cathy McMullian
This team will bring God’s message through music and drama to churches, hospitals and schools in Panama. The team will also share His love with children through crafts, sports and skits. Their goal is to open hearts to God’s Word.
Uganda — Led by Dr. Mike and Professor Nancy Pyle
This team will work at an orphanage and a newly constructed hospital at Restoration Gateway on the banks of the Nile River in northwest Uganda, just south of Gulu.
Thailand — Led by Dr. Kristy Ingram
Thailand is a country where God is already at work among people with great needs. This team will partner with the Church of the Nazarene to work with both children and adults. The team will work at the Maetang Tribal Children’s Home, a sex-slave prevention program connected to Compassionate Ministries. The team will also help organize children’s programs, teach English to adults, lead prayer walks, partner with sex-trafficking prevention organizations and complete work projects.
Armenia — Led by Dr. Heather McLaughlin
This multimedia-focused mission trip to Armenia and Georgia will give students opportunities to gather testimonies and stories of local people and ministries. The interviews and captured media will be used to help communicate how God is working through the Church of the Nazarene in the Eurasia region. Students will also lead a weekend film camp, teaching youth to effectively tell stories and share the Gospel through video.
Hawaii — Led by Joey Ramirez ’11 and Amy Blucker ’16
This team will travel to tropical Hawaii to use their gifts in encouraging the Kona and Paradise Park churches, east and west sides of the Big Island. In Paradise Park, the team will participate in outreach ministries and work to build relationships and encourage those living there. They will spend the second week in Kona, working with youth there. The Kona Church of the Nazarene is located in an area of low-income housing, and the team will participate in youth ministry opportunities during the children’s first week of summer. The final days, they will be in the small fishing village of Milowi’i, encouraging the small congregation there, building relationships, and showing God’s love through worship services and work projects.
To learn more about Missions In Action at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Published: 5/11/2018
