This spring break, many Bob Jones University students traveled all across the United States to serve.
Students from the Student Leadership Council, and several others, traveled to New York City. They served Manor Community Church where Bill Jones pastors. They cleaned and serviced minor repairs, like painting and fixing leaks in the roof. The trip brought the team closer together.
“The trip taught me how important it is to meet people’s immediate needs so they can be more receptive to the gospel. It’s about showing Christ’s love and compassion, not just telling people about it,” said Karis Henson, the women’s student body president.
Tyler Sherman, the men’s student body president, asked for prayer that the Gospel would continue to spread and for more volunteers to be willing to serve.
A team of students from Hampton Park Baptist Church traveled Utah for a vision trip with the Gospel Family of Churches. They also visited Utah Valley University (known recently for the assassination of Charlie Kirk) and spent time talking with students.
When reflecting on what he learned during the trip, Trevor Gearhart said, “God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
Mary Campbell said a highlight of the trip was fellowship with believers who are passionate about sharing the gospel. She asked that students pray God will continue to open doors for gospel opportunities between church members and Mormon neighbors.
A third group traveled to Belize, a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. This trip was organized by the home church of Connor Allen, a junior biblical studies major. They hoped to connect with the people and ministries there, while serving several building projects.
“We were tasked with building a playground for the kids, building the walls and preparing the bathrooms for completion, and digging a couple of trenches, with one going around the property for a new fence on the church’s property and the other for a new electrical line,” Allen said.
They also had four preaching opportunities. Because of the language barrier, an interpreter was used. Allen preached on 1 Corinthians 3 and learned that someone was saved through the sermon.
“[This] was convicting for me,” he said, “Considering I had just preached a message that it was not a preacher or ministry person that causes salvation, but God who does the work of salvation. This was also my first person that had been saved through my preaching, which was so cool considering it was in Belize.”
He asked that students would pray for the pastor of the church, Israel, as he continues to share the gospel. He also asked for prayer regarding the living situation of the church family. They live simply but are still happy to serve God’s people.
