SSP report 2020

S P R I N G S E R V I C E PA R T N E R S H I P S SPRING BREAK 2020

Love is the reason The greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13b

Ireland Mexico

S T A N DA R D S O F E XC E L L E N C E I N S H O R T-T E R M M I S S I O N Northwestern College Campus Ministry is committed to Standards of Excellence (SOE) in Short-Term Mission. The SOE criteria were developed by representatives from many U.S. mission agencies, schools and churches who send short-term missionaries. The common set of standards helps ensure that individuals or teams sent by U.S. organizations are excellent. Training, resources, peer input, data collection and accountability are all components of SOE membership. As a member, Northwestern is serious about doing short-term mission well—from preparation through follow-up.

Ireland

Mexico

Dublin Christian Mission | dcmlive.ie

Youthfront | youthfront.com

For the fourth year, Northwestern students partnered with Dublin Christian Mission, the second-oldest city mission in the world. Students worked at a coffee shop and served food to people who are homeless.

They also interacted with Dublin youth through DCM’s after-school program and brought warm drinks to homeless people on the streets in the evenings.

Serving alongside Youthfront, a community-based ministry in Croc, Mexico, students served in an after-school program and at a community center for seniors. They also painted the children’s ministry area in a Croc church. This is the second year Northwestern has partnered with Youthfront.

by Elison Wagner ’20

C O V E N A N T

M E M B E R

soe.org

The gift of presence The most enjoyable part of serving at DCM was witnessing the passion the volunteers had to serve whoever came through the doors. It was very clear they cherished every person and tried to make that evident in their interactions. The most challenging part was being confident we had something to share. We went into the experience not completely sure what we would say to someone going through such hard circumstances. We quickly learned that it was not what you said but the fact that you were there. It is easy for people to walk by and not even acknowledge the presence of a person sitting on the street. By taking the time to talk with and listen to people who came to DCM’s shelter, we were able to make them feel valued.

Loving hard God’s people are so diverse and come from wildly different backgrounds and circumstances. Some are easy to love. Others are not.

That’s where God’s power comes in, enabling us to learn to love those who aren’t the easiest to love but who need it the most.

by Angela Brinkman ’21

God is a refuge While in Croc, we met Diana, a refugee from Honduras. Diana escaped an unsafe home life and is seeking asylum in the U.S. for her and her two daughters. She told us stories of never losing hope in God, even as she experienced kidnapping and being separated from her daughters. We were moved to tears by the opportunity to lay hands on her and her daughters and pray for their safety and security.

Neighborly-ness Together as a team we pondered a big question: “Who really is my neighbor?” We studied the parable of the Good Samaritan and dove deeper into the excuses we make for not helping others just like the priest and the Levite did. We thought about our own resistance and hesitation when it comes to giving and learned from the example of our new Croc friends who had little but never hesitated to share what they had with us. They were so warm and generous, and it helped us see how important it is to share with others since God has given so much to us.

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The Netherlands

Compton, California

Denver, Colorado

Jacksonville, Florida

Shelter Youth Hostels | shelter.nl

Emmanuel Reformed Church | erc.la

Mile High Ministries | milehighmin.org

2nd Mile Ministries | 2ndmile-jax.com

For 22 years, Northwestern students have spent spring break alongside staff and volunteers at Shelter City and Shelter Jordan in Amsterdam.

The hostels seek to demonstrate hospitality and Christian love by providing clean, affordable and welcoming accommodations for travelers.

Team members cleaned and worked in the hostels’ cafés. They also led evening activities and Bible discussions for guests.

For the ninth year, team members partnered with Emmanuel Reformed Church, Paramount, California, which founded the Compton Initiative, a 40-year commitment to investing in their neighboring city of Compton. The Compton Initiative aims to improve the city’s image and inspire residents to reclaim their neighborhoods by cleaning, repairing and painting facilities. Northwestern students interacted with students at Optimal Christian Academy, tutored at an after-school program and served a meal at the Salvation Army.

Mile High Ministries is a collection of organizations that serve people on the margins in Denver’s inner city. Northwestern’s team served at shelters for people who are homeless, a nutritional center, an inner-city Christian school, and a preschool for children from low-income families.

This is the second year an SSP team partnered with MHM.

Team members volunteered in the Brentwood community of Jacksonville, assisting the elementary school teachers and tutoring students both during class and in an after-school program. They also participated in Brentwood community projects, including cleaning a church and tidying yards. This is the ninth year Northwestern has sent a team to 2nd Mile Ministries.

by Sydney Rodman ’20

by Amelia Holt ’23

Different together While serving at the Shelter Youth Hostels, we met people from six continents and countless countries. Despite the cultural differences, we were able to bond over shared experiences, our love for Jesus, or simply the human desire for answers to life’s most challenging questions.

Light in the darkness One of the hostels is steps from Amsterdam’s Red Light District, which is such a tangible representation of the brokenness in the world. It can be intimidating to confront such systemic and complicated societal issues, but we were confident in God’s work, knowing that our team and the Shelter staff were strategically placed to bring the light of Jesus into an environment filled with so much darkness.

Globally at home This trip showed us that even thousands of miles from campus, we can find a place that feels like home. Because of COVID-19, we had to return to the U.S. early, but our short stay in the shelters brought our team and the staff together as family. We shared joys and sorrows together, and it was a beautiful representation of God’s kingdom on earth.

s herland The Net

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by Rebecca Jackson ’22 and Riley Rasmussen ’23

Tiny spark, powerful light The small but powerful community of City Church in Compton inspired our team, welcoming us with open arms and treating us as if we’d been part of their congregation for years. The church has converted a garage into a worship space where they hold an English service and a Spanish service every week. They also host many community events. They whole-heartedly love the city of Compton and have unconditional generosity and grace for the people around them. They reminded our team what it looks like to have Christ be the center of all your actions.

The work continues While in Compton, our team heard so many stories of renewal, redemption and God’s never-ending grace. Pastor Rafer Owens reminded us at the end of the trip that this restoration of the city is a long process, and we had a small hand in it because we trusted God’s plan and allowed him to work through us. It is incredible to think about the future Northwestern teams that will continue the work in this community and be blessed by it.

Role models Among the people we met, two who inspired us were Miss Boston and Miss Kay. Miss Boston is the pre-K teacher at an inner-city school. She was incredible with the kids; she knows their backstories and how hard it is at home for some of them. She shows her students a lot of love. Miss Kay works at Father Woody’s day shelter for people who are homeless. She never asks intrusive questions or offers unsolicited advice; she simply works hard to meet the needs of the person in front of her. Miss Boston and Miss Kay inspired us to truly love people without expecting them to change.

They meet people where they’re at, just like Jesus did.

Christ-like caring One of the questions our team thought about a lot is how do we love people who live very different lives than we do? How can we help without hurting? We got an answer by watching the MHM staff and volunteers. They have discovered ways to extend Christlike love and compassion—ways to help without taking away someone’s dignity.

by Kaitlyn Hassman ’20

Starting small The most enjoyable part of our week in Jacksonville was interacting with the kids in the schools and the after-school program. It was challenging to see the brokenness of the community and the injustices that are so prevalent. But it was also fulfilling to be able to play a small part in God’s transforming work in the community by investing in the kids and hopefully making them feel valued and loved.

Advocating for others This trip really opened our eyes to social injustices that are so prevalent in our nation. It offered us a new perspective of what it means to love others and fight for the rights of people who are forgotten or speak out on behalf of those who do not have a voice.

It challenged us to think about our own cultural backgrounds and how they have shaped our attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.

It challenged us to think about what it means to come alongside those who are different from us and love them well. After this experience, I think we are all wrestling with how we can apply what we learned and what it might look like to advocate for others in whatever community God places us.

r, CO Denve Compt on, CA

Jackso nville, FL

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Kansas City, Kansas

New Orleans, Louisiana

Youthfront | youthfront.com

Urban Impact | urbanimpact.org

Team members served in the Argentine area of Kansas City, participating in activities at Snack Shack, an after-school hangout for middle schoolers. They also helped at a secondhand store and an urban farm and packaged food at a food bank. This was the fourth year Northwestern students partnered with Youthfront in Kansas City.

Members of Northwestern’s football team hosted daily football camps for children and teens served by Urban Impact. They also re-mulched a neighborhood playground and distributed fliers promoting an upcoming local government meeting. An SSP team has served at Urban Impact almost every year since 1998.

Welcoming the stranger It was an inspiring experience to be surrounded by people who love well. The meal we shared with a family who immigrated to Kansas City a few years ago was one of our favorite parts of the week. We were able to simply be with them and learn their story.

It was challenging to become more aware of the racial, cultural and linguistic barriers immigrants face.

Inspiring enthusiasm Among the people who inspired us was a first-grader who attended the free after-school program offered by Urban Impact. Arguably, the odds are stacked against him. He doesn’t have a father in his life, his mother has challenges, and his older brother has Down syndrome. But this kid is energetic and loves people and learning.

If he can be as enthusiastic as he is—with all the challenges in his life—then what’s our excuse?

by Lydia Pearson ’22

Having God’s heart Regardless of political positions, we as Christians know that caring for people who are vulnerable is a responsibility and a privilege.

God reminded us that his heart is for all of us. And we hope we continue to grow in understanding of the challenges and realities people are facing whether they’re immigrants, orphans, widows or friends across the street.

by Shane Solberg ’20

Game plan One night after football camp, we talked as a team about our questions and the stereotypes we’d had before coming to New Orleans and meeting so many wonderful people. We talked about how much the kids at the football camps craved attention and love. We were sad to realize that in some cases, they may not be getting much attention or love at home. As we talked, we realized that love is the great unifier and that God is the master of love.

Even in such a rough neighborhood, God’s work was clearly visible through the people, the church and the community ethos. While we talked about the future and how God is working in us, we noted that it is important to take these ideas of love and passion back to Orange City with us.

iana s, Louis n a le r New O

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Opelousas, Louisiana

Grand Marais, Minnesota

Mescalero, New Mexico

Hope for Opelousas | hopeforopelousas.org

Coldwater Foundation | coldwaterfoundation.org

Northwestern was the first college to send a service team to Opelousas in 2008, and teams have returned every year since. This year’s team tutored students. They also scraped, sanded, washed and primed a house that will become a middle school tutoring center.

Team members helped Coldwater Foundation staff, including founder Kevin Sutton ’92, prepare for their summer wilderness campers by packaging food and restoring a collapsed yurt. They also cleaned, renovated a community workout room, and interacted with youth at the Mt. Rose Church on the Grand Portage Reservation. Northwestern students have served with the Coldwater Foundation for 10 years.

Mescalero Reformed Church rca.org/mescalero-reformed-church

by Ashley Olson ’20

Genuine welcome We were very inspired by the HFO staff, including Kristina Anderson ’05, who’s been on staff with the ministry since 2010.

They welcomed us with open arms and taught us so much about genuinely showing love to everyone around you during the course of the week. We all said we want to take the intentionality we learned from the HFO staff and volunteers and bring that back to our lives and relationships at Northwestern.

Overcoming the past The most challenging part of our experience was seeing the effects of slavery, Jim Crow and segregation firsthand. It’s 2020. Why are some parts of the country still experiencing segregation? It doesn’t make sense to us and doesn’t seem right. We loved getting to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the color of their skin.

The welcome and generosity we experienced from people who’ve been made to feel they don’t belong was an encouragement to us.

by Camber Herrig ’23

Remote learning While in Grand Portage, we had the opportunity to talk to two tribal council members, April McCormick and Beth Drost. We learned about tribal government and the relations between the tribe and the federal government. At Coldwater, Kevin Sutton and Eliza Kelly demonstrated the importance of second chances and the relationship between us and nature as both part of God’s creation.

Time to reflect One of the most fulfilling moments during our trip was our walk back to the church after finishing the workout room renovation. It was beautiful weather for northern Minnesota in early March— we didn’t even need our winter coats! The renovation was a big project, but many hands make for light work, and we walked with a sense of accomplishment. We took a detour to the shore of Lake Superior and each grabbed a rock to sit on. The snow was melting, the lake was lapping the shore, our faces soaked up the sun’s rays— it was a quiet 30 minutes to soak in God’s beautiful creation and sit in wonder over the opportunity we had to serve others.

by Makayla Bjork ’21

Students traveled to Mescalero to serve at a church pastored by former Northwestern computer science professor Mark Vellinga ’77. Team members cleaned and planned and led worship for the church’s Native American congregation. This is the third year an SSP team served at the Mescalero Reformed Church.

Tribal pride One of our challenges was adjusting to a completely different culture. It may be hard to understand if you haven’t been immersed in it as we were. Although challenging, it was also one of the most incredible parts of our time in Mescalero. Each person we met was so proud of their culture and open about the adversity their tribe has endured throughout the past to now. Even the children wanted us to know everything about them and their tribe, giving tours and telling all the stories they knew.

Child-like love and acceptance The most fulfilling aspect of our experience was the joy, laughter and excitement that practically exploded and filled the church as we spent time with the kids. We hope we left an impact on the kids of the reservation. We know they left a big impact on our hearts. They love so quickly and so easily, literally attaching to you and refusing to let go. A child’s love is precious, and our team experienced that each day.

Mescale ro, NM

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rais, MN Grand Ma

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Lindale, Texas

Waco, Texas

Calvary Commission | calvarycommission.org

Mission Waco | missionwaco.org

Calvary Commission (CC) is a ranch-like residence and educational center for ex-convicts who are born again and desire to spend time growing closer to God after they are paroled. For the 25th year, a Northwestern SSP team traveled to Calvary Commission to help with yard work, maintenance and other aspects of the CC ministry. Team members also led worship services at a Lindale prison and under a bridge where people who are homeless gather.

Northwestern students worked at several organizations that are part of Mission Waco, including the World Hunger Relief Farm, Church Under the Bridge, and the Manna House. They also tutored kids in an after-school program and hosted a “street camp” for kids living in an apartment complex for low-income families. This is the first year NWC sent a team to Waco.

by Tyrae Johnson ’23

by Kiley Meeder ’21 and Jori Steenhoek ’20

Free grace The most important thing we learned at our site was that everyone is a child of God—not just those who choose to follow him, but also those who spent a very long time in prison, had a dark past and lost sight of God for a while. EVERYONE IS A CHILD OF GOD. As team member Kelsay Parrot wrote, “Serving Calvary is putting aside the preconceptions we have. We all have these ideas of what prisoners are like, the prison system, and even what we are going to do to change lives. However, we had many of these notions shattered. That is challenging because we see the humanity and the vulnerability as if it were our own.”

“All family now” A group of people that influenced us during our week in Waco was the men from the Manna House, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Throughout the week, we got to know these men by doing service projects together, and at the end of the week we invited them over for supper. The time in fellowship over a shared meal was a highlight for many team members. At the end of the meal, one of the men said, “You know, we’re all family now.” That was a very powerful moment for everyone. Through Mission Waco, our team truly saw the kingdom of God alive and active in a way that many of us had not seen before.

Ready for more We left Lindale with hearts full of the Holy Spirit. Our thoughts about future participation in God’s redeeming work left us with one burning question: God, how do you want me to work? Show me. Teach me. Let me be your eyes, hands and heart.

X Lindale, T

SPRING SERVICE PARTNERSHIP TEAMS Ireland

Denver, CO

Nolan Behr Corrie Hayes* Chris Nonhof* Katherine Ochsner Elli Wagner Anna Weighmink Megan Willroth

Cameron Esch Maya Hall Patrick Hummel* Rebecca Jackson Michaela Kleinwolterink* Cole Mills Alex Nonhof Riley Rasmussen McKenzie Sonnek Kirby Willats

Mexico Caleb Arnett Angela Brinkman Alyssa Buren Olivia Heyer Sophia Holt* Emilee Hulsing Kailee Jenness Wendell Kampman* Cassidy Rodman Jason Rosema Mimi Sandbulte* Audrey Tacey Mitch Van Kalsbeek*

Emma De Groot Haley Eidem Kaitlyn Hassman Koralee Heynen Elizabeth Junck Emma Rathbun* Elise Petty Leslie Stover* Keely Swanson Corinne Wiese

The Netherlands

Kansas City, KS

Michael Andres* Natalie Blackman Kortnie Bonnema Barb Dewald* Kit Fynaardt Megan Kingsriter Lexy Krogman Joey Lohse* Sydney Rodman Maren Taylor Emma Van Meeteren Moriah Wittenberg*

Bailey Banwart* Brittany Kuiper Jorja Lepp Lydia Pearson Juri Seino Mizuki Tokunga John Vonder Brugge* Noelle Wamhoff

Compton, CA

Waco, TX

Jacksonville, FL

Jordan Blok Carter Bock Amelia Holt Jason Katsma* Alexia Katsma* Brandon Kjonegaard Shonna Ritz Sarah Te Grotenhuis* Jonah Tews Amie Uithoven

New Orleans, LA Cory Bryan Daniel Donovan Canon Flores Blake Kamerman Ben Kingery Bill Kirch* Noah Kullman Jacob Lynott Tanner Machacek* Matt McCarty* Brett Moser Cade Moser Peyton Nieuwsma Austin Reese*

Jessen Reinking Marcus Rens Dominic Seivert Shane Solberg* Liam Stubbe Joshua Thomas Noah Van’t Hof Levi Wiersma

Lindsey Hubbell* Julie Jansen Taelor Lamansky Haley Muyskens* Brenna Rauwerdink Michael Simmelink* Hannah Van Meeteren

Lindale, TX Opelousas, LA Chiyuri Aoi Allison Birks Nicholas Evans Colton Folkers Kailey Heemskerk Brooke Hughes* Cody Hughes* Colin Kaemingk Elizabeth Korver Audrey Leyen Josie Maasdam Christina Mueggenberg Ashley Olson Jessica Rogers* Lucas Sander* Jadeyn Schutt Haley Smit Yuto Suda Daniel Tolsma Julia Zora

Grand Marais, MN Cassidy Bultena Ben De Boer* Camber Herrig Isaiah Lee Kevin McMahan* Lynne McMahan* Evan Rich Chihiro Sato Erika Yamaguchi

Julie Andersen* Tori Buckler* Ben Henker* Jess Howe* Tyrae Johnson Kelsay Parrott Sierra Tumbleson Jakob Vander Werff Micah Van Kalsbeek Wyatt Waage Micah Wittenberg

Waco, TX Danica Bang Tim Czirr* Caylan DeLucia* Jenee Eden Faith Haase Amber Hathaway Allison Haverdink Garrison Hazen Noah Karmann Kiley Meeder Breanna Oolman Calli Shaw Jori Steenhoek Nathaniel Tjernagel Allison Wheeler* Natalie Wheeler*

Mescalero, NM Hannah Allen Makayla Bjork Marissa Brondsema* Misael Bruzzone Josh Dueker Josh Fischer

*Student, staff and alumni team leaders

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Campus Ministry 101 7th Street SW Orange City, IA 51041

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Spring Service Partnerships | Spring Break 2020