AG College News

2010 European Missions Experience

While most other college students are working to make as much money as possible, going on vacations, or hanging out with friends back home before returning to school, 31 amazing students from nine of the Assemblies of God colleges and universities chose to dedicate eight weeks of their summer to participate in the 2010 European Missions Experience. 

Selected from many applicants, these students were assigned, based on their skills and strengths, to one of eight locations throughout Europe:  Athens, Greece; Bucharest, Romania; Barcelona, Spain; Canary Islands; Decan, Kosovo; Granada, Spain; Skopje, Macedonia; and Padova, Italy. 

In an effort to continually invest in the next generation, the General Council of the Assemblies of God funded 80% of the experience, so each student needed only to raise $1,250 and the cost of a plane ticket to Springfield, Missouri.  This was a huge blessing to the students, and most stated that they would have been unable to participate without this generous subsidy.    

Following orientation in both Springfield, Missouri, and Madrid, Spain, the students traveled to their assigned ministry locations.  Matched with nationally-appointed AG missionaries, these team members (seven teams of four and one team of three) participated in diverse forms of ministry including children's ministry, street witnessing, feeding programs, church services, camps, etc.  This was not designed as a short-term mission trip but rather a realistic involvement with the daily lives and work of full-time missionaries.    

Dave Moore, Assistant Vice President of The Alliance and Director of the European Missions experience, felt that this trip met and even exceeded the expectations set out by the General Council and the Alliance.  He stated, "My hope was that the students would grow spiritually and gain a deeper understanding of missions application. It's hard to imagine that the results could have been better toward meeting that objective. All 31 participants indicated that living and interacting on a daily basis in another culture was a spiritually transforming experience, and that they acquired a greater appreciation for cross-cultural ministry."   

Many students echoed these sentiments, and one summed it up by saying, "This experience has truly changed my perspective on God, myself, others, and missions. I never expected that a summer abroad would impact me like it did, but I can honestly say that I am not the same person I was in May. I believe that God ordained the steps and planned out every detail of this entire experience especially for the students involved. I have loved every minute of my journey and would do it again in a heartbeat!"

Skopje, Macedonia:  Brittini Goshorn, Kaitlyn Clancey, Alicia King, & Eden Olena	Athens, Greece: Christine Dell, Emily Teal, Tarah Shroyer & Allison Fontaine

Videos available on AGTV!!!