|
"College graduates without significant cross-cultural experience will be underprepared for the global culture of the 21st century"
- President Loren Gresham, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK
Dr. Loren Gresham's dream is that significant numbers of SNU graduates will offer themselves for a year of volunteer missionary service following the "Mormon model."
After his junior year in college, at age twenty-one, William Cameron Townsend took a leave of absence from his academic life to spend a year selling Bibles and Scripture portions in Central America. That was 1917. That year became two which ultimately became a lifetime as Townsend went on to found Wycliffe Bible Translators.Overcoming obstacles
What keeps you from offering yourself?
"What about my student loans?"
All our volunteers who have had loans have gotten payment deferred for their year overseas.
"Isn't this going to interrupt my movement toward fulfilling God's call to be a pastor?"
Districts have been counting the year of Mission Corps service toward ordination requirements. So, you are not losing any time at all.
"I'd rather go straight on to seminary."
NTS has worked out "field experience credit" for some of the volunteers so they actually began their seminary experience by going to the mission field.
"Where would I get the money?"
Friends, family and home church people love investing in young people willing to sacrifice a year of their lives. This is not about fund raising. It's about creating a network of prayer supporters who help pray in the resources.
"Where could I go?"
Croatia
Needed: Two to four volunteers to carry on pioneering ministry:
- Friendship evangelism (The initial team has made lots of friends. Those ties need to be built on and expanded).
- Exploratory trips (A start has been made in Zagreb, the capital city. Other cities need to be visited to plan future expansion).
- Bible studies (There are currently 15-25 young Croatians involved in the Zagreb Bible study. This group will eventually grow into a church. Other such groups need to be started around Zagreb.)
Bulgaria
Help us finish planting a strong church. Help us strengthen and expand our five-year-old church planting mission in this former communist country.
Compassionate ministry activities are an important part of the effort in Bulgaria. Outreach activities include work in orphanages, children's hospitals, prisons, farms, gypsy encampments, and with young people. Up to 8 volunteers per year are needed.
Sicily
Four to six volunteers to do evangelism and church planting, hosting of American Work and Witness team, children's work, music ministry, and youth work.
"The Macedonian Call"
Macedonia: Nazarene efforts to aid Kosovar refugees in Macedonia have opened the door for Nazarene work there. The first Nazarene missionaries arrived in Macedonia about two years ago. They have asked for teams of 4-6 SNU volunteers to come each year.
"Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" Acts 16:9
| ||||||||||||||
Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th, Bethany, OK 73008 | Phone: 405-491-6693 - Fax: 405-491-6658
Copyright © 2000, 2001 - Last Updated: October 14, 2005 | URL: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/gresham.htm
