More than 50 students were sent out across six continents to participate in WorldWide Witness this past summer, continuing to expand the program’s influence in the world.

WorldWide Witness is an internship program that gives students an opportunity to take the skills they learn in the classrooms of ACU and apply them to places in need, ultimately impacting various parts of the world for the mission of Christ. Larry Henderson, head coordinator for WorldWide Witness, was excited to share about the mission trips that took place during the summer of 2018.

“I’ve heard some great stories – stories of challenges that were met, evacuation from floods, great opportunities to work with young kids in schools, orphanages and churches,” Henderson said.

Students traveled all over the globe, participating in engineering projects, sports ministries and campus ministries.

Austin Parsons, senior biochemistry major from Abilene, worked in Honduras on a medical project. Garrett Rhoden, a recent graduate of engineering from Abilene, worked on an engineering project for a water distribution center in Latin America. Lauren Wertheim, sophomore global studies major from Abilene, was in South Africa, working with a sports ministry.

WorldWide Witness interns raise their own money to fund their missions but are given advice and resources from program directors and facilitators.

“This year, well before the end of school, the trips were fully funded,” Henderson said. “Everybody had raised all of their money. In fact, some people even raised more than they needed and ended up sharing with those that still needed fundraising, so that, overall, everyone met their goal.”

The program continues to make large strides toward growth and opportunity. In the near future, WorldWide Witness expects to open the door to more diverse areas of ministry for the various departments on campus. Henderson is in contact with former interns and correspondents in Cambodia and Japan, who are requesting interns to teach in schools and assist in new projects.

“There are some innovative things developing,” Henderson said. “We are trying to place students in areas where they will be using what they are studying in the ministries that they are doing.”