Senior Summer Series: Part Six - Global Mission Experience

Pictured above: From back left: Christian Miller, Aaron Bruns, Coach Skinner, John Morrison, Sam Lowe, Ben Lee, Harrison Williams, Blake Thompson, Coach Reames, Madi Demers, Morgan Himmer, Shea Sandefur.  Not pictured Sean Cranna, Carley Johnson

SENIOR SUMMER SERIES: PART SIX – GLOBAL MISSION EXPERIENCE

Mission trips have the power to impact a student for life.  Global Mission Experience (GME) gives seniors at Shiloh an opportunity to travel internationally and share the gospel.  Since 2002, 1,117 students have participated in GME trips to places like Thailand, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Croatia, Haiti, England, Guatemala, and Mexico. The objectives of GME include: to evangelize the lost through personal soul-winning and ministry, encouraging and equipping fellow believers around the world, expanding the students understanding of the Kingdom of God, and exposing the students to the possibility of God’s call to missions for his/her life. 

This summer 12 seniors traveled to the Dominican Republic for a week of ministry including, Christian Miller, Aaron Bruns, John Morrison, Sam Lowe, Ben Lee, Harrison Williams, Blake Thompson, Madi Demers, Morgan Himmer, Shea Sandefur, Sean Cranna, Carley Johnson, along with Coach Jacob Skinner and Coach Lauren Reames.  The action-packed week included hosting a baseball and a basketball game where the players shared their testimonies, conducting a VBS program for children, sharing the gospel through street evangelism, distributing blessing baskets of food, and holding a church service where Aaron Bruns preached the gospel.

John Morrison heard about GME trips from his sisters and other students for years, but the said finally going was surreal.  He anticipated going for some time, and he prepared his heart by taking Spanish I-III, which allowed him to truly connect with the people of the Dominican and break down language barriers.   He was greatly impacted by the generosity and joy of the impoverished people he encountered.  He recalls seeing the pain and suffering in many of their eyes, but after he shared the gospel of grace and the free gift of salvation, their pain changed to joy.  He says he will never forget the trip, and that he learned that there is no greater feeling than being in the center of God’s will for his life.

Shea Sandefur was also encouraged and moved by the kindness and openness of the Dominican people and she realized how blessed she is.  Her sister also attended a GME to the Dominican Republic in the past, but Shea says she was still surprised by the perspective she gained.  She was quickly aware of the lack of resources, reliable shelter, food, and simple comforts like warm water for a shower that first-world living provides.   She said she noticed a visible glow and true joy when the lost were saved and changed by Jesus.

The global and eternal perspective, compassion, and international awareness gained from trips like this are priceless.  Each student at Shiloh is given the opportunity to participate in a GME at no cost to them.  While this portion of Christian Studies is an elective, every student would benefit from the life-changing experience of an overseas mission trip provides.