2 minute read
Changed Perspectives
CHANGED PERSPECTIVE
STUDENTS IN MISSIONS
BY CHERYL CROUCH ('91)
Change your perspective by changing your location. This is the challenge Deanna Thomason, Director of SIMS (SNU in Missions), offers SNU students as she encourages them to spend a part of their summers overseas. She knows God can speak anywhere, but she realizes we often hear better when we are removed from our of that provision comes from alumni who understand the value of mission trips. In fact, an endowment has been established to provide ongoing funding. Thomason’s hope is that the endowment will eventually provide $15,000 in SIMS scholarship money each year. usual circumstances. SIMS expands worldviews and grows SNU student Nathan Cummings agrees. At a dinner for faith, and it also strengthens students’ the SNU Board of Trustees and Foundation Board, Nathan appreciation for the church. Thomason shared that participating in SIMS trips to New Zealand and is passionate about connecting SNU Albania unlocked part of his heart to the plight of refugees. students with the global Church of the Because the areas where he served had refugees from many Nazarene. Partnering with established nations, he interacted with people from 21 cultures. “Being Nazarene ministries allows SIMS with people so different from me taught me a lot about teams to have a meaningful, lasting myself, and about God’s love,” he said. Nathan reflected that impact while opening students’ eyes it is one thing to search online for the population of Albania. to our worldwide denomination. This It is entirely different to live with Albanians and interact year, teams will serve in every one of with them. He no longer sees numbers, but instead he sees the six world regions where the church people who deserve the love of Christ. exists. As our university students work Megan Brown, who served in Ireland and Brazil, com- alongside Nazarene missionaries, pasmented, “Through SIMS I’m able to love people, and while tors, and lay people in Kenya, eSwatini, I’m doing that, I learn about different cultures in the midst of New Zealand, South Africa, Costa all these things I otherwise would not be able to experience.” Rica, Cambodia, Ukraine, Ecuador, and Hope Salzman adds, “My SIMS trip to Germany wrecked Brazil, they learn that the Church of me in such a good way. It’s a different culture. They’re the Nazarene reaches far beyond the different people and we have different outlooks on life. It’s borders of the United States. super beneficial to go—to experience new people, new food, As Hope said of her time serving new music, new culture, new environments, and then come internationally, “Yes, we’re there back here and look for those parallels.” two weeks, but we learn so much Thomason loves seeing students’ worldviews expand that we’re able to apply the other through participation in SIMS. That growth often begins fifty weeks we are here!” Actually, the before they ever board a plane, as they struggle to raise applications will last much longer funds. “For many of these students, $3,000 feels like an than fifty weeks. Changing location impossible goal,” she explains. As they work and save and through SIMS results in a lifetime of watch God provide, their faith stretches and grows. Much changed perspective.
