Ministries, Service & Outreach
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Global

It is our belief that God’s mission in the world is to reconcile all things to the Crucified Lord. Our responsibility is to join in this work.

Gordon College has a long history of service both domestically and abroad. Today that tradition continues through foreign and domestic missions and service learning trips. These trips are sponsored by the Chapel Office and are all student-led/staff-advised and motivated by an evangelical and humanitarian spirit. Each trip has its own mission and each team its own character. These trips have been, and will continue to be, an extremely meaningful and memorable time for those who participate, and represent unique opportunities for individuals to grow in their knowledge of God, the world, self, and others.

Here are the mission trips offered this year:

Haiti

HAITI
(Winter Break)

In January this team will spend ten days building homes for families in need in Haiti. We will work alongside Partners in Development, an organization that has been working in Haiti for over 20 years. Come join us for some hard work that will make a big difference in the lives of homeless families in this beautiful but earthquake ravaged country.

To contact a team leader email and


World Focus

WORLD FOCUS—GUATEMALA
(Winter Break)

Gordon students involved in World Focus will spend last two weeks of winter break serving in Latin America partnering with local churches. The primary focus will be building relationships as well as a construction project, and working with children through the local church. Students also have the opportunity to learn about the culture, economics, history, and religion of their host country.

To contact a team leader email: and


Mexico

MEXICO OUTREACH
(Winter Break)

Mexico Outreach is a short-term missions opportunity to serve in Tijuana, Mexico. For over a decade Gordon has been building a partnership with La Casa de Esperanza, an orphanage located outside the city. As we return  each year our hope is to be ambassadors of God's love to all those we encounter. Our prayer is to grow in humility and cultural sensibility as we seek to better understand the global body of Christ.

To contact a team leader email:r or


Ireland

NORTHERN IRELAND
(Winter Break)

Over winter break students will spend time partnering with an organization called 174 Trust in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Trust is a non-denominational Christian organization seeking to provide a space for community reconciliation in North Belfast. Students will potentially meet with politicians, local leaders, youth groups and members of the Trust, all working towards social peace in Northern Ireland. Stop trippin' and come on the trip!

To contact a team leader email:  or


Detroit

DETROIT
(Spring Break)  

This team will continue Gordon's partnership with Mack Avenue Community Church in inner-city Detroit, exploring how to live the gospel in this troubled urban context. The team will work with Pastor Leon Stevenson, former Resident Director at Gordon College and now one of the pastors at MACC with various ministry projects.  (See Pastor Stevenson's chapel address from the spring of 2010: click here).  Along with being involved in outreach work and service projects, our team will also learn about Detroit, it's culture and God's great work in it through the testimonies of the people of MACC. Ultimately we will seek to glorify God by learning from His work, serving alongside and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Detroit, and by bringing a renewed sense of His vision back to Gordon. 

To contact a team leader email: and


DR

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
(Spring Break)

Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the historic (and often racist) tension between Haiti and the Dominican Republic grew as Haitians seeking refuge flooded to their neighboring country. This region's story has particular importance for us in the Boston area as many of our immigrant neighbors are Haitian or Dominican. Join us this March in the Dominican Republic to learn more about the problems and promise inherent in this island and to serve alongside our friends at a Haitian church and school in San Pedro de Macoris.

To contact a team leader email: , or .


Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI
(Spring Break)

Our team will be heading down to Canton, Mississippi for Spring Break. We will be working with In His Steps Ministries, an organization that works with the youth and surrounding community. Our projects vary from painting homes to cleaning and yardwork, to small construction projects, to activities with children in the school program and more! The Mississippi trip provides a full range of opportunities that can change many lives, including yours!

To contact a team leader email: and


Nicaragua

NICARAGUA
(Spring Break)

Nicaragua Connection is a service learning trip over spring break. The trip focuses on serving and creating relationships with the people of Nicaragua in addition to learning and studying the culture of their country. The majority of the trip involves staying at a local orphanage on the island of Ometepe. Our stay will involve connecting with the kids and staff, various construction projects and different activities around the island to provide a more global experience.

To contact a team leader email: and


Reading
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READING, PA
(Spring Break)

We're excited to extend Gordon's mission program to Reading, a small city in south eastern PA with a large immigrant population. We will interact with the city's diverse ethnicities, age brackets, and socio-economic groups; think critically about the challenges of redemption and what it means to serve with a kingdom perspective; and love God and others with our imaginations, teamwork, and prepared hearts. We hope to spread Christ's love in establishing long-term relationships with this struggling urban community. Let's do this!

For more information contact a trip leader: and .


San Diego
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SAN DIEGO
(Spring Break)

Picture this: Spring Break, San Diego. Our team will work with a local immigrant church, serving others, living in community, pouring out God's love in tangible ways and experiencing first hand the issues surrounding immigration.

Are you interested? Contact one of the team leaders: and


ECHO

ECHO Farm
(Spring Break)

Since the early 1980's, Gordon has sent work teams during Spring Break to volunteer on the ECHO farm in North Fort Myers, Florida. ECHO's Mission is to equip people with resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor. ECHO's Vision is to honor God through sustainable hunger solutions. Be a part of that vision and join our work team this year.

For more information contact


ROMANIA
(Summer 2013)

This summer we will be spending 14 days in the mountains of Romania. We will be working with the New Horizons Foundation, an experiential education program founded by Gordon alums Dana and Brandi Bates. Twelve Years ago Gordon students build the first ropes course in Romania to help start New Horizons. This Summer we will return to add a ropes course in another location as the foundation expands its work. 

For more information contact a team leader:


Swaziland

SWAZILAND
(Summer 2013)

In May and June our team will be working with the community of Bulembu, Swaziland, a small country located within South Africa. Swaziland has one of the highest AIDs prevalence rates in the world, a negative population growth, and a life expectancy of only 32. In 2006, a team of entrepreneurs and social developers purchased the abandoned town with a clear vision – restore Bulembu to a vibrant, self sustaining community by the year 2020. We will be helping them fulfill this vision, serving in a variety of ways, such as: orphan care, teaching in schools, landscape and building projects, and economic development.

To contact a team leader email: and


India

INDIA
(Summer 2013)

Our team will spend time with three different organizations in India: Bapatla Children's Home and Bharti Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS) in Andhra Predesh, and Visthar in Bangalore.

These organizations work with orphans, girls at risk for temple prostitution, peace and reconciliation studies, and the rights and needs of the rural Dalit people. We will learn about some of the problems and challenges facing India, have the opportunity to learn from some incredible people, and work with children through VBS, teaching English and helping with other needs.

Contact a trip leader for more information:  and


China

CHINA
(Summer 2013)

Our trip will spend four weeks in South-Eastern China, leaving soon after school ends. Our time will be split between working with a Church founded by American Missionaries in Guangdong and volunteering at a leper colony located on an island off the coast of Guangzhou. We will spend a little over a week with the church, engaging local culture, visiting orphanages and participating in church outreach programs. Afterwards, we will spend several weeks on the leper island ministering to the residents, cleaning and painting the facilities, and providing medical aid to the people living there.  

For more information contact a team leader: and


Brazil
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BRAZIL
(Summer 2013)

Our team with work with two different organizations in Brazil. At Missão Caiua, located in the countryside of Mato Grosso Do Sul, we will do some manual labor and also some evangelistic activities with various indigenous tribes. This will likely include: leading worship, playing games with kids, performing dramas, and giving Bible messages. The second organization, Restoration Ministries located in São Paulo, works with kids, and sometimes their families, from four different slums (favelas). Each of these ministries is challenging in its own way, yet both are also very fun and provide a great opportunity for spiritual growth.

For more information contact a trip leader: and


For more information about these trips or to find out how you can get involved, please contact Laura Carmer in the chapel office.

p: 978.867.4029
e: