This year we are focusing on the grace of God. It is a theme that can resonate with everyone, because we all need the grace of God in our lives. Grace is something that has been absent from our culture, in the way we treat each other and the way we understand who God is. Many of the people we will minister to need to hear about the grace our Savior offers. Easter week is a great time to share the love and grace of Jesus with those we meet!
We will be spending lots of time on the trip meeting people’s physical needs through donating our time, energy, and resources, but the ultimate expression of service is to give them the Gospel. Being obedient to Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we use the gifts that have been given to us as we sing and speak the name of Jesus.
The ministry we engage in will be diverse and is intended to give students a brief glimpse of different kinds of ministry. Concert venues include churches, homeless shelters, public parks, tourist attractions, and community areas.
Our students will be exposed to the realities of a fallen world: people that have been neglected, who are hungry, and who have no one that loves and cares for them on this earth. It will be difficult. It won’t always be pretty, but that’s reality. The experiences that students often have on these kinds of mission trips can impact them for a lifetime. It can break down the walls of selfishness and expose the compassion that Christ-followers should display.
The adult sponsors accompanying the students on this mission are all gifted, trusted individuals who have a heart for students and evangelism. They each pay financially for this trip and sacrifice throughout the year as servant leaders. All of the adults have gone through a three-step background check as well. Please be in prayer for them as they teach and exhibit the attributes of Christ during our time on the trip.
In closing, please know that I will do my best to provide the leadership you expect on this mission trip. It’s hard to believe, but this is my 22nd student choir mission trip at WBC. In the past eleven years, I have learned that there are always unpredictable situations and difficult decisions that have to be made. Please pray that I will have divine wisdom in making those decisions. I am excited to be ministering with your student(s) on this mission trip!
Love,
Dr. Matthew D. Sloma
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