Posted By Andra Holbrooks on Oct 19, 2010

Missionaries from all over the world will come to campus Oct. 25-29 to share their experiences of spreading Christ’s love and service to others for Missions Emphasis Week, an annual event held by the Baptist Student Ministry.

Some will speak in classrooms, at hour-long seminars and in chapel. Different information stations will be set up in the Student Union Building. Missionaries will be there to talk, show photos and prepare ethnic food.

Several visitors are graduates of UMHB and use their degrees to serve in other countries such as East Asia, Ecuador, Ireland, Afghanistan, Germany and even the U.S.

Senior psychology major Erica Jenkins is on the special events subcommittee for MEW. She helped set up the poverty simulation event, which takes place Oct. 27-28.

“Our goal with the poverty simulation is to give UMHB students a taste of what it is like to live homeless for over 24 hours,” she said. “This is a good start to understanding the poor and the needy.”

The guidelines are derived from Mission Waco, and the committee hopes to raise awareness of  homeless people in Central Texas.

Jenkins said students who participate in the experience will be “pushed and stretched out of their comfort zones.”

She is looking forward to going through the experience.

Sophomore Christian studies major Andrew Steubben is on the publicity committee and helped design MEW’s T-shirt and flyers. He has enjoyed the work and fellowship of being on the committee.

“Getting to know people and spending time with Shawn Shannon has been rewarding,” he said. “That woman is full of wisdom.”

BSM Assistant Director, Jena Coulson sees the committee’s compassion through their work.

“I’m excited to see the missionaries interact with UMHB students, faculty and staff.”

Jenkins  is ready for others to see how important it is to love those around us — no matter where we are.

“I say all the time that I have a heart for the ‘least of these,’ but I don’t want that to end in words,” Jenkins said. “Looking for ways to experience and understand the true needs of others makes us better at serving and ministering to them.”