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2008 SSP service sites
March 1-10, 2008
International projects
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The Shelter Youth Hostels
The Shelter Youth Hostels are a part of Vereniging Tot Heil des Volks, which means “Association for the Salvation of the People.” Since 1855, this Association has sought to bring the gospel to the people of Amsterdam through a variety of social means. The two Christian youth hostels where we will be staying and serving are located in central Amsterdam, one in the Jordaan district and the other near the Red Light District. Both hostels truly provide an international experience as people from all over the world travel to Amsterdam and stay there. Most of our time will be spent building relationships with the hostel guests and encouraging the staff, but we will also spend time doing other things like leading Bible discussions, serving meals, cleaning and cooking. In addition, we will be responsible for coordinating several short programs for the hostel guests. Besides working at the hostels, we may also have the opportunity to visit and tour several other ministries in Amsterdam. Students going on this project need to be ready, able, and willing to initiate conversations with others and to talk openly about their faith and faith journeys, since it is the main aspect of this ministry.
Spaces: 12 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $1,310 (includes airfare)
Bluefields, Nicaragua
The Moravian Church
This project will involve working through the Reformed Church in America to partner with the Moravian Church in Bluefields. Our team will be working alongside RCA mission associate Dr. Bernardeth Kelly Bent. Students will have the opportunity to witness the efforts by Dr. Kelly and her husband, Pastor Adrian Bobb, to provide nutrition, education and the good news of the gospel to men, women and children in an impoverished area of Bluefields. Ministry opportunities will include doing construction and helping lead a Vacation Bible School for children in the barrio where Dr. Kelly serves. In addition, there are possible opportunities to serve with Dr. Kelly at the health and feeding center founded by her and Pastor Bobb. The team will stay at a guesthouse in Bluefields. Spanish is the main language spoken in Nicaragua; however, many of the people in the Bluefields area are able to speak English as well.
Spaces: 16 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $1,310 (includes airfare)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
East Belfast Mission
This trip is a service-learning project for students pursuing ministry, especially those interested in youth ministry. East Belfast Mission (EBM) is engaged in community development and service that seeks to meet the needs of children, youth, and those who are homeless, elderly or unemployed. Team members will assist with EBM’s youth and childrens programs. They will also learn about the historic and contemporary conflict in Northern Ireland and some of the reconciliation efforts that are taking place. The focus of students’ learning will be in the areas of youth ministry, urban ministry, community development, social justice and conflict resolution.
Spaces: 10 (including 1 student leader and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $1,350 (includes airfare)
St. Helena, Trinidad
Trinidad & Tobago Urban Ministries
Located seven miles off the coast of Venezuela, Trinidad is the southern most Caribbean Island. Culturally and religiously diverse, Trinidad is home to people from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. Our team will be working with and assisting the staff of the Trinidad & Tobago Urban Ministries (TTUM). We will stay at the TTUM mission center and go with members of the TTUM staff to serve in their various ministries during the day. TTUM is mainly involved with church planting, but also seeks to share the gospel through outreach to schools, orphanages, homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers. Our team will return again this year to serve in the predominately Hindu village of Campoo and will be involved in conducting a Vacation Bible School, leading youth programming, going on home visits with local church members, and doing work projects as needed. As time allows, our team may conduct programs in local prisons and schools. English is the main language spoken in Trinidad.
Spaces: 16 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $1,310 (includes airfare)
U.S. projects
Jonesboro, Arkansas
City Youth Ministries
City Youth Ministries seeks to show the love of Christ to at-risk, inner-city youth in the Jonesboro area. Theteam can look forward to working with children through City Youth’s after-school program. Students may serve as tutors, build relationships with children through recreational activities, and participate in some painting and cleaning projects. This trip focuses specifically on ministering to children in a low-income, culturally diverse neighborhood.
Spaces: 20 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
Annville, Kentucky
Jackson County Ministries
Located in southeastern Kentucky, Jackson County Ministries is an RCA-supported ministry that evangelizes to and serves the people of Jackson County and the wider Appalachia region. The scope of JCM’s ministry includes a clothing ministry, pastoral calling, a home repair program, programs to reach out to high-risk youth, and a summer work camp. The NWC group will assist the ministry at JCM by helping with construction in their housing repair program and possibly working with the youth in some of their after-school and youth group programs.
Spaces: 20 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
New Orleans, Louisiana
Trinity Christian Community
Trinity Christian Community (TCC) is an urban community development ministry located in the Hollygrove area of New Orleans. TCC's mission is to empower inner-city youth to become mature, confident Christian leaders who can effect positive change in the urban communities of New Orleans. TCC sustained major damage to their ministry and the surrounding area from the flooding after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Team members will be assisting TCC with their ongoing recovery efforts.
Spaces: 20 (including 1 student leader and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
New Orleans, Louisiana
Urban Impact
Urban Impact is a ministry NWC has served through SSP for many years. The ministry's focus is on community development and church planting in a low-income neighborhood in central New Orleans. Although the ministry itself did not sustain significant damage from Hurricane Katrina, many of the homes in their surrounding neighborhood had severe flooding. Our team will be assisting with any ongoing recovery needs Urban Impact has as they minister to their community.
Spaces: 20 (including 1 student leader and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
Opelousas, Louisiana
Hope for Opelousas Ministries
A new site for Northwestern SSP teams, Hope for Opelousas is committed to being used by God to bring hope to the people of their community through racial and denominational reconciliation. Located in the poorest county of its size in the U.S., Opelousas has a long history of racial tension. Opelousas is also one of the oldest cities in Louisiana, offering a deep, rich and intriguing culture including Cajun food and music. Team members may serve in a variety of ways, including construction, basketball instruction, backyard Bible clubs, community cleanup, and relational ministry with women and children.
Spaces: 20 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
Jackson, Mississippi
Voice of Calvary Ministries
Voice of Calvary (VOC) is a Christian community development organization striving for racial reconciliation, relocation and redistribution of wealth in inner-city Jackson. It is the vision of VOC to provide holistic programs that will enable individuals, families, churches and communities to reach their full potential in Christ. VOC relies almost completely on volunteers to assist them in their mission and desires in return to give volunteers an introduction to an urban experience, designed to foster their understanding of God’s heart for the poor, the city, social justice and reconciliation. Our team will be challenged to think holistically about their faith through devotions, outside speakers and community living. We will work closely with VOC’s People’s Housing Development Program, doing demolition, painting, construction or maintenance. The city of Jackson also sustained some damage from Hurricane Katrina, so it is possible that some of our work will be hurricane recovery-related. There will also be opportunities to interact with the local church family and to possibly work alongside VOC’s various other ministries, including the after-school program and GED program.
Spaces: 20 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
New York, New York
Fordham Manor and Highbridge Reformed churches
This Northwestern SSP team is partnering with the First Reformed Church of Orange City for this trip. First Reformed has an ongoing relationship with several RCA churches in New York, helping them facilitate their ministries of reaching out to those living in the inner city so their lives might be transformed by the gospel. The service of this team will include demolition, cleaning and remodeling of the church buildings, while also focusing on building friendships with the members of the church.
Spaces: 10 (including 1 student leader and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $535 (includes airfare)
Apache, Oklahoma
Apache Reformed Church
Apache Reformed Church is a small Native American congregation that strives to help others understand the Native American culture by reaching out to the surrounding community. Students will worship and fellowship within a Native American context, participate in work projects within the local community, and assist the church in various ministries such as an after-school Bible program for 75-80 kids. Students will also visit a local tribal headquarters, as well as other Native American sites. ARC hopes to provide a framework that will enable team members to gain a better understanding of Native American culture and God’s greater kingdom.
Spaces: 10-14 (including 1 student leader and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Miracle Hill Ministries
Miracle Hill Ministries is a homeless shelter for men, women and children. The Mission serves over 12,000 plates of food a month to the homeless and poor and also offers Christian programming and daily chapel services. Our team will stay and eat all meals at the mission. Opportunities include serving in the kitchen and dining hall, participating in daily chapel services, doing minor cleaning and small work projects, delivering food, and engaging in conversation with those staying at the mission. As students encounter homelessness, addiction and hunger, they will be encouraged to examine these issues through the eyes of faith.
Spaces: 10 (including 1 student leader and 1 adviser)
Fund raising expectations per person: $535 (includes airfare)
Lindale, Texas
Calvary Commission
Founded as a ministry to assist incarcerated men and women upon their release from prison, Calvary Commission (CC) serves as a home to ex-offenders who have had a born again experience while in prison and seeks to prepare, equip and “commission” them for full-time Christian ministry. Our group will stay with the CC students and staff on their east Texas “ranch,” assisting them with yard work, cooking, cleaning and painting. Students also will attend CC’s charismatic chapel and worship services. The group will also interact with inmates at a nearby prison by leading a church service, sharing testimonies, scripture, drama and music. Other ministry opportunities may include leading an evening VBS for staff children and volunteering at a local food bank.
Spaces: 20 (including 2 student leaders and 2 advisers)
Fund raising expectations per person: $350
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