Huntington senior experiences PRIME in Great Britain
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Huntington, Ind.-Andy Miller finishes his long days in ministry feeling quite jiggered. Miller, a senior at Huntington University, has had to learn many new words during his PRIME experience in Great Britain-including "jiggered," meaning tired. A missions major from Hamilton, Ind., Miller is serving with OMS International for his PRIME, a seven-month practical experience that all Huntington University ministry and missions majors participate in during their senior year.
He began serving in June and will continue until November. Miller works in OMS International's Manchester, England, offices, serving as the initial contact for those interested in being involved with some of the ministries of OMS. He also assists a program that enters primary schools and presents a 20-minute program similar to Vacation Bible School in addition to a youth Bible study two nights a week.
The primary source of learning for Miller, however, is the people with whom he works in the office. "They are all great people," he said. All of them have been out doing mission work at some point. Now they are back home on assignment, and they have a lot of good stories to tell."
Before heading to England, Miller was involved with a ministry based in Northern Ireland called Wash Basin, described as an interdenominational outreach center desiring to help people by "showing love in practical ways, reaching people who don't yet know God, and introducing them to the local church."
One memory from his time with Wash Basin particularly sticks out to Miller, occurring while the group was in Ireland at Croagh Patrick Mountain, named for frequent visitor St. Patrick. "On Sunday, Catholics visiting the mountain walk up to the chapel at the top of the mountain and take mass," he said. "Thirty-thousand people walked up the mountain that day. They would stop and say certain prayers at certain statues. It blew my mind that people still do that."
Miller certainly recommends the experience. "When you get on PRIME, you have to adjust to a new family. You can't just go home whenever you need to. You also have to adjust culturally."
Building upon his classroom knowledge, Miller has learned the reasons behind many of the behind-the-scenes of missions work. "I have learned a lot of administrative tasks, which will be of huge value once I get into the field," he said. "There is insurance and all kinds of other background details that I never even thought of. Communication with the home base (in the sponsor country) is crucial as well."
Finally, spiritual growth is paramount in Miller's PRIME experience as well. "It is an irreplaceable experience spiritually. When you're away from your normal atmosphere, you see the need for a daily time with God and good prayer life. Sometimes you get into the routine for your day and don't do that. When you're away from everything you really see that you need that aspect of your life."
