Campbellsville University students to serve internationally on summer mission trips

By Heather Hensley CAMPBELLSVILLE | 05/09/2013

                                                                                                                                                              May 9, 2013

For Immediate Release

By Heather Hensley

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Classes may have ended for most Campbellsville University students, but that doesn't mean all of the students are beginning summer break quite yet.

Twenty-five students will be attending mission trips, sponsored by the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM), this month and next.

Trent Creason, campus ministries intern, will be leading ten students to Niamey, Niger in Africa.

“We're hoping for a great trip and safe travels,” said Ed Pavy, director of campus ministries. Pavy said the students will be working with CU alumni Mark and Parker Hill Phillips, both 2002 graduates of Campbellsville University who have served in Niger for a few years.

While there, the team will be experiencing some of hottest temperatures worldwide, with highs in the 100s every day.

Pavy said they will be working in two or three remote villages outside the capital, assisting with medical, health and hygiene items.

“They will also simply be looking opportunities to share the Gospel amidst their trip,” Pavy said.

Charity Powell, campus ministries graduate assistant, will be leading a trip to the Philippines with ten students. Powell made contacts there several years ago while completing The World Race, a Christian mission trip excursion.

Powell said they will be working with an organization called Kid's International Ministries (KIM).

She said while there for two weeks, they will be working with two children's homes, helping at a local school, painting new classrooms, and working with a food ministry, along with several other ministries such as one that aids people who live in the slum areas.

“We're really excited to see what God is going to do with 10 willing hearts,” Powell said. “It's going to be an incredible trip!”

Pavy will also be leading a group of five students from CU and five from Lindsey Wilson College to Honduras. They will be leaving June 3.

“This is the first time CU and LWC students have done a joint mission trip, to my knowledge,” Pavy said. “We are all looking forward to our work together.”

Pavy said their work in Honduras will consist of doing street evangelism, working with children and helping to lead worship services. They will also be doing projects in and around a missionary house in Agua Caliente, working in a landfill area where “the poorest of poor live,” according to Pavy.

This academic year alone, over 140 students have participated in mission trips through CU, who were able to help lead 112 people all over the world to Christ, Pavy said.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.