The Halbert Institute for Missions hosted Missions Week this week, with representatives from WorldWide Witness and other missions organizations speaking at Chapel and setting up information booths in the campus center.
The purpose of Missions Week is to create awareness of missional opportunities on campus and how to get connected to global service, said Deanna Tuttle, coordinator for short term missions in the Halbert Institute for Missions. She also said this was the first time they’ve done Missions Week in this format.
Students also had the opportunity to speak with missions organizations Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the campus center, where they could learn more about WorldWide Witness, a summer mission internship program. The Halbert Institute connects students to organizations throughout the world for various internships, depending on their academic field, talents and passions.
“WWW has sites on every continent except Antarctica that include internships with sports, teaching, business, evangelism, marketing, social justice, the list goes on,” Tuttle said. “We believe that this global experience is for everyone passionate about spreading the name of Jesus, in various forms. We help students walk through the process, train them before they go, debrief when they return, and help them discern how their calling to spread the Kingdom fits with their vocational calling.”
Besides WorldWide Witness, there are several other missional opportunities for students to check out, including short term trips, gap year programs and long-term team training. The Halbert Institute will also host the annual Broom Colloquium on Nov. 9-10 with the theme “Challenging Radical Islam” with speaker Dr. John Azumah.
The new Missions Student Association also provides an opportunity for students interested in missions. MSA runs missions Chapel every Thursday with speakers from different international and domestic missions agencies, said Josh Rhodes, junior psychology major from Abilene. They plan to host several events throughout the semester like worship nights, Prayers for the Nations and service projects.
Rhodes also said “the purpose of MSA is to develop a culture among students of Abilene Christian University that is more aware of and burdened for the unbelieving people within our local communities and the world; encouraging students to be committed to pray for and participate in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.”
