Students to travel overseas for summer missions

Eighteen Northwestern College students will spend their summer on short-term mission experiences in 15 different countries as members of the college’s Summer of Service (SOS) team.

Each student will spend at least six weeks overseas, serving with Christian missionaries and mission agencies that match their gifts, interests and theology.

Team members will assist pastors, physicians and other missionaries in churches, hospitals, clinics, schools, orphanages and refugee camps. They will help counsel youth, perform construction, plant churches, deliver community health programs, and teach English as a second language with ministries such as Audio Scripture Ministries, International Teams, the Luke Society and The Navigators.

Northwest Iowa participants include Ingrid Carlson, Sanborn; Laura Mastbergen, Sioux City; and Dan Unekis, Rock Rapids, who all plan to travel to Mexico with different ministry organizations. Andrew Klumpp, Sanborn, will serve in Ireland. Other team members will serve in Australia, Bolivia, Cameroon, England, Haiti, India, Japan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Spain and Zimbabwe.

Since 1981, Northwestern College’s SOS program has challenged, prepared and encouraged students to be effective Christian servants around the world. Team members raise their own funds through the support of family, friends and their churches. This year’s team is raising $68,500.

For a list of the 2009 SOS team members’ names, dates of service, and details about the ministry in which each student will participate, visit www.nwciowa.edu/sosteam.