Inspire, Summer 2005

18 Summer 2005 L O G O S W h a t ’ s t h e W o r d ? Why MIS? As background, I should mention that I’ve been involved previously in short-term missions and in traveling ministry teams in the U.S. I’ve come to understand that these trips serve a dual purpose. We very much want to be a help to the ministry of the missionaries and support their efforts in a healthy way. At the same time, I recognize the profound influence these experiences can have on the participants. I’ve watched as people are moved to consider full-time missions seriously. I’ve also seen how people who have been on trips are more often sensitive to the needs of missionaries and thus have a greater likelihood of being involved in their local church’s support of missions. As a professor, I’m anxious for opportunities that will serve this dual purpose — ministry contribution and participant growth. My previous experience had me approaching this trip with certain expectations. The experience far exceeded what I could have anticipated on both fronts. Why Ecuador? New Perspectives It was great fun meeting new friends, tasting new foods, hearing new music, and seeing new sights. We stayed in a town located about 2,700 meters up in the Andes Mountains. After landing in Quito, we drove nearly six hours, skirting the highest volcano in Ecuador (more than 20,000 feet high) to get to our home for the week. We were able to experience many aspects of a culture very different from our own. Ministry Opportunities The missionaries we worked with had described this area as one with little or no evangelical presence, but as a place where they have observed a great sensitivity to spiritual matters and a genuine openness to the message of the gospel. We were involved in broad 2005 Spring Break MIS Ecuador Trip by Tom Hutchison ‘80, Associate Professor of Christian Education seed-sowing, hoping to build relationships and open doors for missionaries and national believers to follow up. This was accomplished in a significant way. A primary venue was teaching English on a large university campus, as well as at several local high schools. One student had an opportunity to share the gospel extensively on the radio as he was interviewed. Through basketball (as others spent time with students in the stands), music, drama, and mostly teaching English, many opportunities were given, and taken, to share the gospel. At this point, the university is anxious to establish a continuing cooperative agreement with Cedarville, and we are currently working to try to make that happen. The missionaries are following up on the Bible study materials that were distributed. Learning Experiences The team is still reflecting on and discussing the lessons learned. Many students on campus who were not a part of the trip are talking about the experience (another indicator of how much it influenced the participants). One of our team members is returning to Ecuador this summer to serve as an intern. The team enthusiastically describes lessons learned about the culture, about ministry, and about themselves. I believe they have gained a broader view of the world and a greater appreciation of the need. The biggest lesson, however, seems to be that they can actually be an active part of meeting that need. I’m grateful for the ministry opportunity we had and the valuable lessons it provided for our students. It is a pleasure for us to now continue building on that experience as we have many of those students in classes and seek to build on these relationships. I’m also personally excited about continuing this ministry this summer as my entire family joins me for a family missions trip in July. Tom ’80 and Amy Hutchison