But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
EVERY SUMMER SINCE 1981, Northwestern College students have spent 6 to 10 weeks serving as short-term missionaries through Summer of Service (SOS). They have served on six continents and in around 90 countries. Students raise the money themselves to cover transportation, room and board, and program expenses, mostly from family, friends, their home churches and on-campus service projects.
They have traveled to countries like Albania, Bolivia, Fiji, Ghana, Haiti, India, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Peru, Romania and Uganda to serve with mission partners including the Luke Society, Pioneers, Wycliffe and the Reformed Church in America. They have worked in churches, hospitals, orphanages, schools and refugee centers; taught vacation Bible school and English as a second language; and served in sports and hospitality ministries. They have milked yak, helped deliver babies and supported victims of sex trafficking. Summer of Service alumni often serve as missionaries after graduation: some for a week or a month, others for a lifetime.
Christians from around the world welcome Northwestern students into the action of their ongoing ministries. The students return home with questions about God and the world and stories of the surprising ways the Holy Spirit has transformed their hearts and minds. They say confidently that Christ is, indeed, at work in the world, and they're eager to discover what God wants them to do next.
David Soundarajan
Pioneers, Ghana
David was both challenged and encouraged in his faith as he served alongside long-term missionaries in Ghana this summer.
Outreach challenges
The biggest God-honoring thing we observed was the overall investment of time the missionaries made in their area. They face many challenges in building relationships with the Muslim community. As Christians from other countries come to support their ministry, the missionaries can use these foreigners to make new connections with Muslims.
Crucial abilities
I saw how learning the local language is key for long-term missions work. Knowing the language of the people you are serving allows you to use familiar phrases and terms to share the gospel in a way people understand.
Growth through experience
God surprised me with the opportunity and experience to give three sermons within a week during the trip. Through this, he encouraged me to see his faithfulness and provision. I now have a greater idea of what life looks like for long-term missionaries in the field.
PRAY FOR GOD TO OPEN the hearts of people in Ghana that they would see their spiritual need and come to know Jesus in a personal and deep way.
Kallie Van Kley
Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries (STEMM), Tanzania
Serving in remote areas of Tanzania, Kallie assisted with providing medical care and sharing the gospel with those in need. Through this experience, she felt the Lord confirm her path to seek a profession in health care which she believes will open doors to share God’s love.
Overwhelming needs
We spent a week in a remote village providing medical care with a team of six medical staff and translators from the United States and Tanzania. In a three-day period, we served 2,500 people. This outreach was the most humbling and eye-opening event I have ever experienced. In this, God encouraged me to continue pursuing health care, as it is an incredibly effective ministry bridge to share the gospel.
Trusting God
God taught me to be satisfied in him, firmly trusting that he is sovereign even in circumstances that are different than my expectations.
Global perspective
My heart is much more sensitive to the global church. I learned how the kingdom of God spans beyond the limitation of culture, race or geographic location. We can serve and worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ even when everything else about us appears different based on worldly standards.
PRAY that the STEMM team would remain committed to their values and mission to share the gospel despite the governmental and staffing challenges they face.
Joshua Lewis
Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries (STEMM), Tanzania
With a focus on medical missions outreach, Joshua worked with STEMM to provide care for people in remote areas of Tanzania and share God’s love with them.
Making an impact
Along with assessing and caring for medical needs, I had the privilege of interacting with the locals and teaching the word of God. I not only saw the transformation of people physically, but spiritually as well. This ministry had a huge impact on every patient.
Seeing hope
God taught me that his work is not localized in one area of the globe. This experience showed me that even in the most desperate of areas, hope is not lost. It is in fact the opposite. The most broken situations can turn into the most beautiful stories.
Passion for missions
This summer was a huge encouragement to my faith. God surprised me with how much I have a passion for missions. After this experience, I know this is something I want to continue throughout my life.
PRAY for a willingness among Tanzanian leaders to allow more work to be done to provide medical care for people within the country.
Mary Walnofer
Pioneers, Ghana
Ministering in three different communities in Ghana, Mary spent eight weeks doing school ministry, personal evangelism, church ministry and physical labor to serve those in need.
Reliance on God
From the beginning of the trip, the Lord taught me I can do nothing in my own strength. He will provide what I need. When I felt inadequate, he gave me the words to speak. I was reminded that it is worth being uncomfortable for God. He is a loving God who blesses us by letting us join in his work.
Gaining confidence
Going to Africa and experiencing mission work have been two desires of mine since childhood. I left this summer in awe of our God who orchestrates the smallest details of our life for his beautiful plan to make his good news known. Through this experience, I have become more comfortable in having gospel conversations and now have a clear vision that I am commanded to make disciples wherever I go.
New perspective
The believers in Ghana are so quick to thank the Lord for every moment of the day. They don’t live with expectations that everything is supposed to go their way. This opened my eyes to my own perspectives and expectations. I now approach life with more contentment and thankfulness for God’s daily provisions.
PRAISE GOD that over 1,800 students heard and responded to the gospel during our trip. Pray God would provide ways for them to grow in their faith and that he would continue to soften hearts of those in the Muslim communities to hear and accept the gospel.
Emma Anunson
Fārā Limite, Romania
As an intern with the mission group Fārā Limite, Emma spent the summer in Romania teaching educational programs and building relationships with students through activities at the mission’s rock-climbing gym.
True community
The people in the Fārā Limite community and associated church were always gracious and lifting each other up. They were focused on worshipping and honoring God with their lives through everything they did. Amid my new experiences and culture changes, this was a valuable example for me. God used the people he placed around me to gently encourage me and help me learn to keep pushing myself to grow.
The power of music
This experience showed me the global impacts of the gospel. During my first church service there, I was singing in Romanian and realized we were singing the hymn "How Great Thou Art." I was overwhelmed that I could truly worship God despite the different environment, language and new experiences. God used the power of music to grow me and ground me while in Romania. Worshipping with others I had never met, and may never see again, was so special.
Prepared for God's work
I was surprised by how my gifts and previous experiences prepared me for this trip. My love of music, science, teaching, hiking and history were all used. Serving increased my confidence in my skills as a teacher to connect with students and my ability to navigate new cultures and experiences on my own.
PRAY FOR GOD TO BE glorified through the work and mission of Fārā Limite. Ask God to help more people find and follow him through the ministries of the church, as well as the educational programs and rock-climbing gym activities.
Kaylee Thorson
World Team, Europe
Serving in locations in France, Spain and Moldova, Kaylee gained insight into a variety of aspects of missionary life and the challenges of sharing the gospel in different cultures.
Childlike faith
While in Moldova, I had the opportunity to teach Bible stories to 5th- and 6th-grade boys during a weeklong camp. My favorite part was teaching them stories many had never heard before. Each day I asked them what they learned about Jesus. I loved hearing them repeat the truth of who he is and believe it themselves.
Sovereign timing
This experience gave me a new perspective on sharing the gospel with different cultures. In Europe, planting churches is a slow and intentional process. I was reminded that God’s timing is sovereign and that it’s OK if it takes time for people to accept him. It was exciting to see how he was working in so many people in his time.
God's faithfulness
Throughout this trip, I saw God’s faithfulness through answered prayers and encouragement from teammates, as well as support from missionaries we met and friends and family back home. In the challenging moments, I was motivated to keep going knowing that God had me where I was for a reason, and I could depend on him.
PRAY FOR AN OPENNESS to spiritual conversations between the people in Europe and the missionaries. Pray for church plants and Christian organizations to grow and draw people to Christ.
Tatum Schmalbeck
World Team, Europe
Covering more than 3,000 miles over six weeks, Tatum gained a wide variety of ministry experience as she worked with missionaries to share the gospel in unique cultural ways in France, Spain and Moldova.
Diversity of outreach
Europe is a very tough mission field. People’s hearts are hardened toward the Christian faith. As I traveled to partner with missionaries in Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; and Chisinau, Moldova, I was able to join in their outreach events. I experienced a French home church and participated in a prayer conference and led a Bible school for kids in Spain. In Moldova, I taught English to children, working through a 9-year-old interpreter who was the child of a missionary family. It was the most beautiful opportunity to channel my passion for children, teaching and English. That was my favorite part of the trip!
Steps of faith
God taught me boldness of faith and gave me courage to step outside my comfort zone. He showed me I have the potential to be a powerful vessel for his kingdom with his spirit inside me. I was affirmed in my passions and will continue to seek God’s guidance and direction as I finish my college years.
God's provision
I have learned a dependency on the Lord through this experience. I was very encouraged by the way the Lord provided for me each day. When I felt inadequate, he was sufficient. He provided a community around me and sweet sisters in Christ for me to serve alongside. I am thankful for all the relationships I made throughout this trip.
PRAY FOR EUROPEAN HEARTS and minds to be open to truly knowing and understanding the gospel message. Pray for God to place in the paths of these missionaries people whom he’s prepared to receive the message of salvation.
Jacob Lewis
Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries (STEMM), Tanzania
Traveling to a remote region of Tanzania, Jacob helped staff a medical outreach clinic, cared for orphans, visited a leper community and learned how to share God’s love within the Maasai culture.
Meeting needs
As I took vitals, triaged people and brought them to see the doctor they needed, I was able to connect with them and express God’s love. God taught me that his church has no limits and that he is always at work. I learned that you can make a difference even if you don’t think you can at first.
Making connections
God surprised me with how much I enjoyed talking to and connecting with new people. Although this was outside of my comfort zone, I was happy and excited to put myself out there and gain this experience.
Gaining perspective
I am more grateful now for what I have and where I was born. When you come face to face with the people that you hear about, it becomes very real. You realize that these people are not so much different than you and I.
PRAY THAT GOD will continue to provide the teachers, physicians and funding needed. Ask God to bring jobs to many who want to work but can not find employment.
Hannah Beckloff
Pioneers, Central Asia
Meeting with people of various religious backgrounds and beliefs, Hannah served with a team from Pioneers ministry and gained valuable experience in sharing the gospel through everyday interactions.
A new mindset
I was amazed to see how the long-term missionaries use so many ways to share the gospel. Everything they did was to honor and glorify God. It was so beautiful and encouraging, and it changed my mindset on the way I want to live.
Stronger faith
God taught me how to trust and glorify him even in uncertain and uncomfortable situations. Through the mentorship of the missionary women, I learned to praise and rejoice even in times when I am suffering and confused. God taught me to have confidence in Christ more than myself.
Clear calling
Through this experience, I felt a confirmation from God that spreading the gospel to the nations is one of the reasons I am on this earth. I now have a desire to be curious for Christ at a deeper level and share with others what I learn.
PRAY THE MISSIONARIES serving in this area will have perseverance to share the gospel despite hardships. Ask God to grant me patience as I await the day I can move overseas to begin this ministry.
Jaylin Gaston
Urban Impact, New Orleans
Working at a day camp for inner-city kids in New Orleans, Jaylin shared God’s love by creating activities where children felt safe to play and participate in art, Bible, sports and enrichment classes.
Learning to be still
Through this experience, God taught me to open my heart and be still. There is such beauty in his work, and I do not need to be in a constant state of moving. Instead of going from one thing to the next, the art of being present in the moment allows me to slow down and calm my anxieties. Learning to be still and be present has had a huge impact on how I continue to live my life.
Confidence in Christ
As I served alongside seven other interns and the full-time Urban Impact staff, I learned how to be OK with the unknown. God taught me so much about him and about myself that I would have never believed possible. Prior to this summer, I was always worried about the next thing I had to do. But now, I have confidence that God is going to place me and take me where he wants me to be, and worrying will not change anything.
PRAY URBAN IMPACT will be able to continue their work in blessing kids through their camps and after-school programs. Ask God to help the children who attend feel like this is a safe place to play, connect with friends, and learn about God.