Sixty-seven students, faculty and staff members of Olivet Nazarene University are preparing their hearts and minds to serve during spring break 2020. By partnering with the Shalom Project (formerly known as MIA trips), the teams going on these spring trips will further the mission of this campus ministry by seeking to inspire, empower and equip the communities in which they will serve through the creative act of restoring broken relationships with God, themselves, others and creation.
The following are the groups participating in Shalom Project trips, March 6-15, 2020:
Chicago, Illinois – Led by Charles DeLoach and Danielle Davis
The team of 18 will be going to the City Life Center in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, and will be working with Rev. Charles Moodie and the ongoing urban ministries of the church. The team will be participating in outreach missions, serving in the Chicago public schools that Rev. Moodie has developed relationships with, and working on several maintenance projects at the City Life Center. Olivet has been blessed by the relationship and ongoing partnership with the City Life Center since 2015.
Cactus, Texas – Led by Susan Morill, Phil and Denise Anderson, and student leaders Caleb Suwanski and Scarlin De La Cruze Martinez
The team of 17 will be going to Cactus, Texas, and will be working with the Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center, a compassionate ministries center of the Nazarene church that serves more than 20 nationalities and ethnicities in Cactus and the surrounding areas (primarily immigrants and refugees from Central America, Myanmar and Africa). The Olivet team will do a variety of projects that will include helping in an after-school program, teaching ESL classes, participating in outreach ministries with other organizations in Cactus, as well as other work projects around the ministry center. The relationship between Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center and Olivet for ministry opportunities has existed for three years.
Honduras – Led by Dr. Charles Perabeau and Gayle Perabeau
The team of 18 will be going to Honduras to work with the Garden of Hope and Love that is run by an organization called Footsteps Ministries. They will be partnering with the children that attend the ministry’s after-school program. The team will also be doing some work projects at a new site. Footsteps and Olivet have partnered in ministry since 2007 and this relationship continues to be an amazing opportunity for students to learn, grow and serve.
Key Largo, Florida – Led by Ashley Rosenberger & Dr. Ryan Himes and Sarah Himes
The team of 14 will be working alongside the Key Largo Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Tim Crutcher. During their time, they will be focusing on creation care and working at several different environmental and conservation organizations found in the Keys such as the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, the Coral Restoration Foundation and the Everglades National Park. This is the first year that Olivet is going to the Keys and the first time that they are offering a trip of this nature.
More information about the Shalom Project and the upcoming trips can be found at shalomproject.olivet.edu.
For more information about the Shalom Project at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Published 3/2/2020
HRI
