[1]NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–High school students wanting a taste of international missions can travel to one of two countries next summer and join a new missions initiative sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and the International Mission Board.
“In the summer of 2000, LifeWay and the IMB will offer an opportunity for youth to have a life-changing experience as they minister alongside IMB missionaries in Valencia, Venezuela, and London, England,” Mark Robbins, international consultant for the Centrifuge/Crosspoint section of LifeWay, said.
The missions initiative, M-Fuge International, combines the elements of Centrifuge with an opportunity to be involved in personal ministry in an international setting, said Robbins, an IMB missionary in Quito, Ecuador, for 17 years before joining LifeWay.
“What we are doing is partnering with these youth to help our international missionaries accomplish their goals and strategies in starting church-planting movements. These students will be allowed to go and participate, help with and encourage the work our missionaries are doing.”
A typical day will begin with morning celebration, quiet times and group Bible study, Robbins said. The youth will spend the remainder of the day in projects such as Vacation Bible School, construction/painting, sports/recreation camps and creative ministries, such as puppets, drama, interpretive movement, songs and mime. Some may choose to participate in community projects, such as distributing food or working with agencies assisting refugees. In the evening, they will rejoin for worship, church group meetings and fellowship, he said.
“Today’s youth are different. Learning about missions through literature used to be OK, but today they want hands-on experience. They don’t want to just read about it in a book,” Robbins said. “Mature Christian youth are wanting to give and to be a part of the missions endeavor and not just receive.”
In 2001, M-Fuge International hopes to add missions opportunities in additional countries.
For more information, call 1-877-CAMP123 (226-7123) or e-mail [email protected].