Every year, hundreds of students, faculty and staff from Olivet Nazarene University travel throughout the United States and around the world to share the joy of Christ through various ministry activities and programming. These trips are planned through the Shalom Project, a facet of Olivet’s Office of Spiritual Development.
We partner with God to restore broken things. We seek, through the Shalom Project, to inspire, empower, and equip our community in the creative act of restoring broken relationships with God, ourselves, others, and creation; God’s project, and ours as well.
excerpt from the Shalom Project mission statement
SEEKING SHALOM
All students at Olivet are encouraged to participate in at least one mission experience during their time in college. Such trips expand one’s worldview and appreciation for other cultures through relational living and humble service. Spring break trips offer a concentrated opportunity to serve for a week, while trips that happen after the conclusion of the semester allow for an extended time in a new country.
This May, the Shalom Project sent four groups out into the world — to Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea and Argentina. Each team of students and faculty/staff leaders had a different focus for their intended work ranging from medical missions to creative communication. Continue reading for an overview of what the team in Argentina experienced.
CREATIVE MINISTRY
Beginning in 2019, the Church of the Nazarene started to sponsor conferences geared directly toward communication professionals. Programmed through World Mission Broadcast and the collaborative planning of regional Nazarene missionary staff, CREACOM first launched in Ecuador, followed by conferences in Paraguay in 2023, the Netherlands in 2024, Guatemala in 2025 and Costa Rica in early 2026.
Brian Utter ’91, director of Shine.FM and associate faculty in the Department of Communication, has worked with World Mission Broadcast since 2001. He was integral in planning for the first CREACOM conference and was strategic to involve Heather McLaughlin, Ph.D., chair of Olivet’s Department of Communication, and Olivet students in developing content for and teaching topical communication-related workshops at each succeeding conference.
This year, Prof. Utter and Dr. McLaughlin led a team of seven students and two additional Olivet staff members on a two-week trip to the Pilar neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Below are personal anecdotes and highlights from three of the team members.
Camden Koester, Class of 2028
“After traveling to Guatemala in 2025, I knew that going on another COMM-specific trip to Argentina was going to be a unique and fun experience. A big highlight for me was being able to get behind a camera and help film at a nearby children’s day care to help tell the story of all that God is doing in the church to help raise the next generation of educated believers that love the Lord. Another highlight for me was getting to tour downtown Buenos Aires and take photos all day while seeing the beauty of the country of Argentina.
“I never have any way of knowing what to expect when I travel to a new country other than my previous experiences, so going with the mindset of being open to whatever happens is very peaceful and fulfilling for me. How can I be disappointed if I don’t already have set expectations? On the other side of that, not knowing what I’m stepping into can be daunting, but after arriving and spending the first night there, I knew it was going to be an amazing trip.
“During our time of worship and listening to speakers during the [CREACOM] sessions, I learned a lot about the importance of being creative with the means to communicate. We each have the opportunity to reach almost anyone in the entire world through a device that fits in our pocket. That reminder was humbling for me and was a great reminder for the real reason we have to live, and that’s spreading the good news of Christ.
Ella Kraemer, Class of 2029
“I was initially interested in going on the trip to Argentina because I had recently been on another mission trip, and that experience sparked a love for the mission field in me. I had never been to South America before, so I was super excited to visit a new place, learn about a different culture, and see what God was doing in another part of the world. It felt like an amazing opportunity to grow in my faith while serving alongside people from all over the globe.
“A few highlights from the trip were definitely all the new friends I made during the workshops, many of whom I still keep in contact with today. I also learned a lot about communicating through social media for ministry by helping teach a workshop. Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of social media myself, but I also learned how ministry communication looks in another culture. We were lucky enough to be paired with the coolest interpreters. They were both around my age, and we quickly became great friends.
“[During the camp], I also got to lead wacky games with another member of the team, Caislyn! We got to come up with the silliest games, and my favorite part was definitely when I voluntold Gabe (another team member) to demonstrate the game for us because the language barrier proved very difficult when trying to give instructions in three languages. He may have left with some scrapes, but it was definitely worth it because EVERYONE understood after that!
“I was also surprised by how much I learned from the people I was there to serve alongside. It wasn’t just about teaching workshops; it became an opportunity to listen, learn, and build meaningful relationships. The trip reminded me that ministry is a two-way street, and I left feeling like I gained just as much as I gave (which, as someone who ended up leading wacky games every day, was a lot more than I was prepared for).
“One of the biggest areas of personal growth for me was confidence. There were moments when I wondered if I was qualified enough or if what I had to share would actually be helpful. However, through the experience, I learned to trust God more and be confident in the gifts and opportunities He has given me. I also grew in my ability to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Building friendships across language barriers taught me that genuine relationships don’t always require perfect communication. Sometimes, a willingness to listen, learn, and show kindness goes a long way.
“This trip reminded me how much bigger God’s Kingdom is than my own community, church, and even country. It was incredible to worship, learn, and serve alongside people from around the world while seeing how God is working in so many different places. I left Argentina with lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and a greater appreciation for the global Church and its mission. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and would encourage anyone considering a mission trip to say ‘yes!’”
Caislyn Hummel ’26
“The Lord placed Argentina on my heart last fall before I knew it was an option for Shalom Project. I said ‘yes’ with the confidence that God was working and doing something.
“The translation process from English, to Spanish, to Portuguese during keynote events and fun games was very surreal. Knowing that over a hundred people were gathered from 12 different countries with three languages could still create friendships and worship the Lord was beautiful to experience. It’s not often you get a trilingual camp experience!
“I was told that Argentines are arrogant, especially after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This stereotype was quickly debunked after meeting plenty of Argentines ready and willing to show hospitality towards us. During our excursion of Buenos Aires, it was cool to observe the European and Italian architecture that influenced the culture shown of today.
“I didn’t have a big ah-ha moment that shifted my life, but a more gradual deepening of my faith with the Lord as I could see His handiwork in the lives of everyone I encountered. Jesus is woven in everyone’s stories, and it is a beautiful sight to see and experience.”
For more information about the Department of Communication at Olivet and other areas of academic study, visit Olivet.edu/Academics.
