Twenty-six Waynesburg University students to serve at home and abroad
As the semester draws to a close, 26 Waynesburg University students will travel to different states and countries to serve others before heading home for the summer.
University faculty and staff will lead three mission service trips covering a variety of academic and professional interests.
The projects include partnerships with the John Perkins Foundation in Jackson, Miss., Urban Promise in Camden, N.J., and Barnabas Ministries in Sebis, Romania.
John Perkins Foundation – Jackson, Miss.
Chad Sherman, assistant professor of communication at the university, will lead nine Waynesburg University students to Jackson, Miss., from Saturday, May 10, to Saturday, May 17, to partner with the John M. Perkins Foundation for a week of service at the Spencer Perkins Center. The center’s mission is to train and equip a new generation of indigenous leaders who are driven by the love of God to pass on the torch of reconciliation, community and youth development in West Jackson.
The group will work on various building projects in one of the poorest cities in the United States. Students will study racial reconciliation and community development issues with Dr. John M. Perkins about an area that has a history of racial segregation and large-scale poverty.
Urban Promise – Camden, N.J.
Dave Calvario, director of the Center for Service Leadership at the University, will lead eight Waynesburg University students to Camden, N.J., from Saturday, May 10, to Saturday, May 17, to serve with Urban Promise, a faith-based after school and summer camp program that aims to equip children and teens with skills for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and leadership.
Service will consist of working with children in Urban Promise’s kindergarten through 12th grade school as well as its after school program. Waynesburg students will assist with homework, spiritual development, arts and crafts, and athletic games.
Remaining time will be spent on labor projects in Urban Promise’s school and other ministries. Students will learn about the city of Camden and the poverty and social justice issues that exist there.
Barnabas Ministries – Sebis, Romania
Ezekiel Olagoke, assistant professor of sociology at the University, and Victoria Kapp, junior psychology major, will lead eight University students to Sebis, Romania, from Tuesday, May 20, to Tuesday, June 3, to serve with Barnabas Ministries, a legal non-profit ministry who helps meet the physical and spiritual needs of orphans, the elderly and poor families in Romania.
Service will include working with children in the community, reaching out to impoverished gypsy families and manual labor. Specific service will be dependent on interests of the group and needs of the ministry.