Summer Missions

by Nina Karim '10

Summer usually entices college students to think of a long stretch of warm weather, vacations or summer jobs, and a much needed break from the busy world of papers and projects.

Not for those students who are a part of missions teams at APU. The 25 Focus International teams prepared and equipped by the Office of World Missions will spend part of their summer serving God alongside the local and global church nationally and abroad. For 110 years, since its founding as the Training School for Christian Workers, APU has sent teams around the world to meet people’s needs. This summer, about 180 undergraduate students, 6 staff, 3 alumni, and 3 faculty will serve in 20 countries, including Cambodia, China, South Africa, Kenya, and more. Five teams will also serve in the U.S. in Camden, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Utah.

The volunteer college students and adults work in health clinics, teach English, provide orphanage care, support youth at risk, and more. By getting involved with issues like these at their designated countries, these Christian workers learn first-hand what it means to be commissioned for building up God’s kingdom.

“What a joy to encourage and equip students, faculty, and staff to partake with God’s global church in 20 countries in various focused ministries,” said Chiraphone Khamphouvong, director for the Office of World Missions. “In 2009, short term mission trips at Azusa Pacific look different from when our founder Mary Hill began sending students out more than a century ago, yet it is with the same purpose to share the Gospel of love and peace with all people groups. While mission trips may end, the mission lifestyle is only the beginning as our participants’ lives and the people they work with and minister to are forever transformed for the physical and spiritual good.”