Bears Abroad

During 2002, more than 170 Baylor students and 16 faculty or staff members went on Baylor-sponsored mission trips and even more are expected to participate this year, says Steve Graves, director for student missions and ministries. In addition to these trips, the Baylor mission office works with local churches to provide training and support as they send out mission teams. These overseas efforts, though, are just a portion of the mission opportunities provided by the University. Baptist Student Ministries also sponsors trips, with nearly 100 students participating last year. Other groups, such as students from a residence hall, the Law School or the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, also sponsor and send mission teams. It's a vital, growing ministry that provides hundreds of students each year firsthand experience in living out their faith. Below is a look at some Baylor-sponsored mission trips and services planned for this summer.

Arts and sign language

Students will use various art skills to help educate and train deaf Hondurans. This training facilitates more effective communication through drama and provides a possible income for the deaf through tourism marketing. In conjunction, other students will lead deaf education camps and programs.

Journalism

As part of a Baylor class, students will help produce a missions magazine by interviewing missionaries and serving with them in their various ministries in New York City.

Medical

Students can participate in medical mission teams to Mexico or Africa.

Relational ministry team

Students will share their faith through building relationships with university students in the Far East or Turkey by teaching English or doing cultural exchange or other programs on a foreign campus. Some of these are joint projects with local churches.
Other mission opportunities in a variety of fields are being considered. They include designing Web sites and other communication tools for missionaries, accounting internships to mission organizations and using engineering skills to install and repair medical equipment in foreign hospitals. 

For more information, please contact the Student Missions office at (254) 710-7424, e-mail Steve_Graves@baylor.edu or visit www.baylor.edu/missions.