Students to spend Spring Break reaching out to others
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, March 13, 2003
Huntington, Ind. "As Spring Break approaches and most university students look forward to nothing more than a little fun in the sun, more than 70 Huntington College students will travel to various parts of the world to lend a helping hand and make a difference in people's lives. Each year, Huntington College's Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service offers service-learning trips in the United States and abroad, encouraging students to impact their world for Christ. During this year's Spring Break from March 15-23, students will travel to Boston, Mass., Jacksonville, Fla., Arizona, Haiti and Belize. Huntington College is committed to developing the whole person, teaching them how to impact their world for Christ, said Interim Vice President and Academic Dean of Huntington College, Norris Friesen. Spring Break trips offer students a unique opportunity not only to do some much needed work for others, but to give the students a glimpse into different cultures. The greatest advantage, though, is serving together with other Christians to help spread the good news of the gospel through words and actions.
Friesen will lead a group of 16 students to Belize. While there, they will work at a boy's school, providing basic maintenance during the mornings. In the afternoon and evenings, they will help with a church plant in Belize City by offering a Bible School.
This marks Friesen's ninth trip to the Caribbean on a spring break project with a group of Huntington students. It really is amazing to work along side other Christians and see how God is working in their part of the world. The poverty is shocking and yet the love of God shines through in incredible ways. It is never easy to leave a place like this after one week. The need is so great and the kids are so hungry for attention. It is indeed a privilege to share the love of Christ with these kids.
Students participating in the trip include:
- Elizabeth Adams
- Diana Ashley
- Joy Bamford
- Amanda Carr
- Lisa Collar
- Lesley Echelbarger
- Erin Groth
- John Key
- Josh Nash
- Lauren Powell
- Ashlee Reed
- Abigail Rodgers
- John Roth
- Jennifer Schmidt
- Jeffrey Scott
- Dana Starks
The Jacksonville, Fla., trip plans to help build a house in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. Jason and Jenni Shaffer, resident director at Huntington College, will lead the trip of 28 individuals:
- Virginia Allison
- Drew Auckerman
- Tanner Babb
- Stephanie Bills
- Jayma Carr
- Denis Dreni
- Julie Enderle
- Tina Fox
- Jodi Frantz
- Kara Fultz
- Sarah Harper
- Christy Harris
- Brandon Huber
- Julia Loerop
- Jule McKanna
- Alex Miller
- Ed Neuenschwander
- Rachel Rhine
- Scott Samson
- Adam Setmeyer
- Christi Shook
- Katie Sjoberg
- Joey Spiegel
- Caleb Starr
- Michelle Sullivan
- Austin Babb
The Boston, Mass., team, led by Joanne Miller, Adviser to the Joe Mertz Center, will help with various physical labor projects, provide assistance at a shelter and evangelize to various parts of Boston. Students on the Boston team include:
- Nigel Berry
- Amanda Brody
- Lauren Hines
- Jared Risser
- Kyle Shoemaker
- Dwight Simon
- Lara Sprunger
- Susan Stoneking
- Amanda Thompson
- Bill Walker
- Dusty Abshire
The Arizona trip, led by Martha Smith, Assistant Dean of Students, will work with various children and provide physical labor on projects as needed. Members of the Arizona team include:
- Rachel Bushong
- Carrie Miller
- Joe Reed
- Natalie Smith
- Sarah Stoner
- Jenni Strange
- Joy Chirra
The Haiti team will assist local missionaries in building a new orphanage and working in mountain gardens. The students will also observe medical missions, international education, children's ministries, street ministries, community development, appropriate technology and environmental programs and other mission-related areas.
This trip will provide several occasions to meet and learn about many different missionaries serving in Haiti in a variety of capacities, said trip lead Matt Webb. It's an opportunity to not only put hands to our faith, but to see that whether we are teachers, businessmen, farmers, mechanics, youth pastors, nurses or computer engineers, God can use any gift that we have if we will make ourselves available to Him. Webb and Carlene Peters, who will also lead the trip, both work in the Admissions Office at Huntington College. The members of the group to Haiti include the Student Admission Staff on campus:
- Lynda Barnum
- Heather Beck
- Renae Flora
- Mike Matura
- Nate C. Reusser
- David Rice
- Jonny Rice
- Dana Siferd
- Elizabeth Wood
- Tannen Peters
Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. US News and World Report ranks Huntington among the best in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana. Spring Break mission trips are one way Huntington College seeks to educate men and women to impact our world for Christ.
