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Learn how God led in the lives of these students over the summer. Read more
The exodus of over 4,000 students after Commencement marks the beginning of summer at BJU. While students go their separate ways, they take with them the biblical truths they’ve learned throughout the academic year and apply them to multiple opportunities for ministry during the summer months.
Meet Sarah, Dan, Karen and Tyler, 4 students who will each be in a different place contributing to a different kind of ministry, but all will be laying up treasures as they make an eternal impact on others for Christ.
Sarah Woolf
Class: 2009 Graduate
Major/Minor: History/Political Science
Ministry: High Point Camp and Conference Center
Location: Geigertown, PA
Position: Counselor
Why are you working at a camp for the summer?
I worked at a camp with my family when I was young, so I have loved the camp experience for most of my life. I love children and having fun. Camp is the best place to combine the two. High Point Camp sees many kids that have never been to church or heard the Gospel, and it is a thrill to watch a child who is hearing about God for the first time!What is one thing you won’t leave home without?
A watch! Last year, I had to make an emergency trip to a Wal-Mart in the nearest town after the first week. Just having a clock in the cabin doesn’t do.What are some of your favorite camp activities?
Being able to lead a child to the Lord and see the immediate transformation that comes over them. After lights out so much craziness goes on then and seeing a cabin of strangers come together and become good friends by the end of the week. The list could go on! I love EVERYTHING about camp—except frogs.What are you looking forward to the most?
Besides seeing familiar faces from last summer, meeting new camp staff, doing things I didn’t get to do last year and growing closer to Christ.What do you want the Lord to teach you during your summer ministry?
How to be a better servant, have compassion for those who are different from me and to rely more on him. I can do nothing without Him and camp is a great way to learn that lesson quickly.What have you learned at BJU that will help you while you’re at camp?
Listening! I don’t know if I learned it in any specific class or chapel message, but just interaction with teachers, classmates and friends. Dr. Greg Mazak said, “One never learns anything while talking." Most people have something to say and are trying to say it, but I need to be listening to them—-they might not be saying it in a way I am expecting.
Daniel Powell
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Bible/ Music
Ministry: Local church while working
Location: Vernon, CT
Job/Position: Swimming Pool Service
Why are you working for the summer?
To pay off my school bill.What is one thing you won’t go to work without?
Water!What are some of your favorite daily job activities?
Figuring out how to solve problems and cleaning pools.What sort of outreach opportunities do you have at work?
Many times I am on the job, and customers like to watch what I am doing or how I would fix the particular problem. That gives me an opportunity to strike up a conversation with them about Christ.What sort of ministry opportunities do you have at your local church?
I sing in the choir, direct the choir a couple times, lead in congregational singing and sing special music.What are you looking forward to the most?
Helping out at church.What do you want the Lord to teach you during your summer ministry?
To have a greater burden and love for the unsaved. I work with many people who live very rough lives. I am praying that the Lord will help me to show His love to them.What have you learned at BJU that will help you while you’re at work and/or at church?
I think that the many verses I have had to learn this year for classes will help me a ton when I am going throughout the workdays. They will help me keep my heart clean and also help me to minister to others more effectively.
Karen Greenwood
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Dramatic Productions/Psychology
Ministry: Musical Missions Team
Location: Europe
Position: Soprano
Why are you traveling on a missions team for the summer?
I’m traveling on the Musical Missions Team this summer because I believe I will have the opportunity to use the skills the Lord has given me to reach people I would never have otherwise met.What is one thing you won’t leave home without?
Well, obviously my Bible. Other than that, I definitely need my blow-dryer.What have you been doing to prepare for the trip?
Our choir has practiced every Tuesday and Thursday evening for this whole semester and part of last semester, and we have been going out on deputation meetings to raise prayer support in the local churches nearly every Wednesday night.What are you looking forward to the most?
I’m looking forward to getting to understand people better by learning about their culture and finding out how to reach them within the context of their world.What do you want the Lord to teach you during your summer ministry?
How to make people and not projects my first priority.What have you learned at BJU that will help you while you’re on the trip?
Voice lessons have obviously been helpful, and I’m excited about applying some of the basic principles that I have learned in my Bible and Counseling classes.
Tyler Jones
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Bible
Ministry: Community Baptist Church
Location: South Bend, IN
Position: Church Intern
Why are you working at a church for the summer?
I am preparing for full-time ministry here at school and I want to get some good, practical hands-on training.What is one thing you won’t leave home without?
I will definitely not leave home without a camera because I know that there are going to be so many memories that I won’t want to forget.What are you looking forward to the most?
I am looking forward to spending some good time studying and ministering through God’s Word, and I am looking forward to staying at the pastor’s house.What do you want the Lord to teach you during your summer ministry?
I want to develop good ministry philosophy, doctrine and standards for my future ministry.What have you learned at BJU that will help you while you’re interning?
I think almost everything I have learned about ministry I have learned here at school. I think my counseling and preaching experience from school will be the most applicable.What sort of ministry opportunities will you have on a daily basis?
I will be involved in just about everything that the church does whether that is Vacation Bible School, door-to-door witnessing or a youth group event. I will get a taste of every aspect of ministry available at the church.