OBU Commissions Students for 2020 Global Service During Nov. 15 Chapel

November 19, 2019

OBU recently hosted its Global Outreach Commissioning service Friday, Nov. 15, in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. The University recognized students, faculty and staff who will be serving others across the world and throughout the United States during the month of January and over spring break, as well as students who will be studying abroad. Bruce Perkins, associate vice president for enrollment management, delivered the message.

Perkins commended students who were planning to go, while also challenging students who aren’t going to consider going in the future.

“If you are going on a GO Trip [Global Outreach Trip], we are so proud of you,” he said. “You are fulfilling our mission statement to engage a diverse world. However, students, I encourage everyone in this room who is or isn’t going on a trip to be in prayer and consider what God is calling you to do.”

Perkins told about a time when he was on a trip abroad and things did not go as planned, but instead of packing up and going home, his team listened to the Lord’s prompting and went a different way with their trip.

“If you aren’t going, pray for your fellow brothers and sisters,” he said. “Pray that they will hear the Lord leading them while they are on their trip.”

Forty-nine students, faculty and staff will be traveling to nine different places around the world to serve in various ways. These locations include Mexico, where students will lead a Vacation Bible School and engage local believers; the Amazon, where students will hike with local believers and sleep in hammocks; and Uganda, where students will equip local believers and engage in the culture.

Two students will also be traveling overseas in January and staying through the spring semester as part of OBU’s new global marketplace engagement major. These students will travel abroad to study, work and experience ministry in another culture. Offered through the Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry, this degree equips students with marketplace skills and ministry training.

The university also commissioned 46 students who are studying abroad in January. These students will travel on two trips, one to Europe and one to Israel. The European study trip will visit sights and learn about World War II, while the Israel trip is through the group Passages International.

Dr. Pat Taylor, OBU’s interim president, spoke at the end of the service, encouraging the students and praying over them. He also challenged all students to consider going in the future, for the sake of their education, for the sake of ministry and for the sake of further developing a mature Christian worldview.