Missions & Service Learning
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TEAM
Over spring break in March of 2006, a group of students traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with the Haitian community through an area church. Students returned over spring break in 2007, and a similar trip will take place this year.
Preparations for the trip include fundraising activities and weekly meetings throughout the beginning of the second semester to help the team get to know each other and learn more about the D.R. The team training times may include things like book discussions and visits to Haitian churches in the Boston area, as well as planning and preparing materials for the mini-VBS program that students will hold for children during their trip.
Last year during their time in the D.R. students worked alongside members of the Iglesia Para Las Naciones, a small Haitian Baptist church in San Pedro de Macoris. The team worked on construction projects in their new church building and in the school that, though unfinished, is already in use, attended by about 200 neighborhood children. In addition to working and worshiping alongside the people of the church, students spent two afternoons conducting a VBS program for some of the children from the school. The convergence of so many backgrounds, languages and experiences in one tiny place was a very meaningful experience as they were able to witness firsthand how the love of Christ transcends all barriers and speaks in all languages.
MEXICO OUTREACH
Each year Gordon students travel to Tijuana, Mexico over spring break, nurturing the long-term relationship between Gordon and the community in Tijuana.
Before going to Mexico, teams spend time together planning and preparing for their trip, both as a large group and split up into smaller teams that will work together in each location in Mexico. A two-day Mexico Outreach retreat each winter includes workshops, worship, and a service project to help participants start thinking about the work that they will be doing during their trip.
Over spring break, participants work with churches in La Planicia, El Pipila, and Otay Mesa, and with La Casa de Esperanza orphanage. Students spend time painting, cleaning, and renovating various facilities and run a VBS program for neighborhood children. They also tour Tijuana, visiting the markets after church on Sunday, giving them the opportunity to see, smell, touch, and taste many elements of Mexican culture.
SUMMER MISSIONS PROGRAM
The Summer Missions Program (SMP) connects students with long-term missionaries and missions organizations in various nations around the world. Individual students and teams participate in intensive training at Gordon and then spend anywhere from three to six weeks at their site working with the missions organization.
Summer Missions Program trains students through an accredited course in short-term missions and through numerous activities over the course of the spring semester prior to their trips. Members of the SMP core staff work closely with trip leaders to guide them through all aspects of planning, budgeting, and fundraising for their trips. Core staff also coordinates two SMP retreats and visits to mosques and ethnic churches in the Boston area.
Over the past few years, students have traveled through Summer Missions Program to Nicaragua, Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Cambodia, Uganda, Indonesia, Bolivia, China, India, Senegal, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Thailand, Mozambique, Poland and Guatemala. This year's team trips will travel to China, India, Romania and Senegal.
US EXPOSURE
US Exposure sends out teams of students over spring break to various urban and rural locations throughout the United States. These service learning trips often do construction projects and work with local non-profit organizations while learning about social issues confronting various people groups. De-briefing times after these trips help students to process the things they've learned, encouraging participants to develop a Christian understanding of the need for reconciliation across barriers of class and race.
Recent trips have included work with Habitat for Humanity and doing clean up and construction in communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
WORLD FOCUS
Gordon students involved in World Focus give their winter break time serving in Latin America partnering with local churches. The first few days of their stay include intensive language study and visits to historical sites. Students also have the opportunity to hear from various speakers knowledgeable about the culture, economics history and religion of their host country.
During the remainder of their time in Latin America, students help with construction projects through area churches and run a VBS program for local children.
WORLD MISSIONS FELLOWSHIP
World Missions Fellowship is an on-campus group that meets to educate students about cross-cultural missions.
The group coordinates numerous small group meetings throughout the school year. Group members invite the rest of the campus community to join them in discussions and fellowship. Each monthly fellowship focuses on a specific topic; past discussions topics have included missions in Eastern Europe, reconciliation in Chad, and practical ways in which college students can be involved in missions in the midst of full-time studies at a place like Gordon.
World Missions Fellowship works with the Director of Service Learning and Missions and the missions intern to coordinate Global Opportunities Week, advertising special events and informing the rest of campus about the missionaries who visit that week. The group also hosts a number of guest speakers throughout the school year.