Interterm Missions Teams Already Forming
SMU will be sending six student teams to Europe and Africa in January. The trips and their leaders have been established and interviews for team members were completed during the last week of September. All teams will be finalized in a week, according to Director of Research Brian Smith. Many of the trips are focused on children’s ministry in partnership with churches and local orphanages, but each team has something different to offer:
Russia Leaders: Miriam and Ashley
Team Russia is ladies only and will be working with children during their trip, leading VBS and visiting orphanages.
Please pray for the leaders and SMU staff to establish a contact in Russia so that they can move on with the planning of the trip.
Western Europe Leaders: Kali and Madison
Team Greece is hoping to work with female sex trafficking victims who need encouragement, love, and care. Currently, it is still unclear whether the team will be going to Greece or not because the priority is to work with the trafficking victims, wherever a contact is found. This team is also ladies only.
Please pray for a contact and a specific place of ministry for this team.
Belgium
Leaders: Kevin and Ryan
This is an all guys team doing a variety of outreach, including street evangelism and working with youth groups. The team will also be spending time with the Muslim population, which has grown to be significant in recent years.
Please pray for Team Belgium as they go to witness to a post-Christian community in Europe. Belgium claims Roman Catholicism as its religion, but for much of the population their Christianity is nominal.
Uganda
Leader: Tyler
Team Uganda will be partnering with One-By-One, an orphanage outside the city of Kanpala. Activities will include putting on VBS, playing with the kids, sharing testimonies, and focusing on care for AIDS victims. This team will be coed.
Please pray for a co-leader for team Uganda.
Kenya
Leaders: Micah and Danielle
Team Kenya is coed and will be partnering with Micah’s father in putting on an annual Pastors Conference. The conference will build up the Kenyan church by providing training for church planting. The team will also be working with a children’s ministry at a school in the city of Banana.
Please pray for the team’s financial situation.
North Africa:
Leaders: Scott and Brad Team Egypt will focus their efforts on the cities of Cairo and Minya, going to orphanages and specifically working with at-risk handicapped children and adults. Soccer is very big in Egypt so the team hopes to do some sports outreach. This will be an all guys team as well.
Please pray for contacts for this team, as well as an openness to the gospel among a predominantly Muslim population.
*To find out more about SMU trips email smu.stm@biola.edu