Global Outreach

Among many cancellations that happened in the past couple of weeks, we announced last week that Cedarville Global Outreach trips are canceled for this coming summer.  This of course was difficult news for GO staff as well as the faculty, staff, and students who had been praying, planning, and fundraising.  I was planning on leading a trip this summer myself so I was feeling the weight of disappointment on that level as well.

However, in the midst of confusion and disappointment, in the middle of the wondering, God speaks to us from His Word.  The morning the announcement was made, I was reading Psalm 46.  I came across the very well known and often quoted phrase in verse 10, “Be still and know that I am God”.

But how perfectly paired with that phrase is the next one, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  God knows exactly what He is doing.  He can work without our help!  Be still, and watch Him.  He will be exalted among the nations.  Nothing can stop Him.

Let’s watch and pray.  Pray for the missionaries you were supposed to be serving with this summer.  Pray for the people you were supposed to be ministering to.  Pray for God’s glory to be known!

We in Global Outreach are so grateful for many of you who were willing to bring gospel hope to a different part of the world.  Lord willing you’ll have opportunity in the future to see that desire fulfilled.  Let’s trust that in the waiting, that in the quiet, while the world is “on hold” we can be still and know that He will be exalted. 

–Keith Holcomb, Global Outreach Staff

One of the unique experiences of the Atlanta team is that they get to learn about other cultural and religious practices and beliefs.

The medical team set up a pop-up clinic to do health screenings for refugees and other members of the local community.

The team went to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.  The white wall pictured above shows the Civil Rights Laws that have been passed.

Pharmacy, Nursing, and Pre-medical students assisted at the Grace Village Medical Clinic.

A quick look at the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other before heading to camp.

The Eleuthera team before church on Sunday morning! We attended a Haitian Church, Palmetto Point Church of the Nazarene. Joe Gerber prepared a little sermon, Quinn Naegeli and Lexi Groters shared their testimonies, and the team sang In Christ Alone & How Great is Our God.

The team exploring the south side of Eleuthera!

Our team started on Ms. Doris’ home bright and early Monday morning! We were able to take all of the old shingles off and replace wood that was unstable. While roofing was our main activity, our overall goal was to embody what Jesus described as the Church in Matthew 16:13-28. Don’t worry Moms and Dads, we kept our harnesses on!  #CUGO

It has been a great trip so far but very emotionally stretching.  Prayer seems to be a big part of out ministry so far.  We have been able to encourage and pray with several of the church planters.  We are praying here for Hogan who is working in a very difficult part of the city.

More prayer and sharing.

Inviting people in to the church.

Stay tuned!  We will be posting updates from our missions teams throughout spring break.  You can also follow us @cedarvilleGO on instagram and facebook.

Thank you to those who prayed for and supported our teams this year.  Here are a few of our favorite pictures from the summer.

A few of our softball ladies posing with players from Costa Rica.  We call this one, “Don’t Mess.”

Courtney Ashburn and Emily Savard doing vitals on a patient (and apparently her dog) in Ecuador.

Kenan Estes distributing Bibles at a school in Peru.

Halie Hardwick comforting a patient in Eswatini.

Hannah Joiner and Xandra French clowning around with South African friends.

An end of the day stroll with the Ecuador team.

Just a Peru Bible team pic…with the MOST AMAZING background!

A few last takeaways from Jake Grasser in Africa…

First off, Jesus is worthy of ALL honor and praise. Everything that happened this summer in the heart of those who I served and in my heart was totally because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. He is magnificent, and if more people were able to gaze at His beauty through interactions with me and by reading my writing, then the time and energy is well spent.

God has not shown a ‘special level’ of grace to me by revealing more of himself to me. He reveals himself to all of us equally- we must simply learn to look for Him in every situation. He is there if you look. One way to see more of God is to ask/petition/pray REGULARLY for more of your sin to be revealed. God wants our full devotion and faith- we won’t be able to do that until sin is cut out and removed. It isn’t fun at all, but God has shown me so much of my wickedness this summer and it has deeply increased my delight in Him by showing me that I literally CANNOT do it on my own. There is nothing more fulfilling and rewarding than a life sold out for Jesus.

Until I learned to approach God in an intimate manner and actually be honest with myself AND God- I was just distant and putting on a ‘Christian’ front. I went to church, did the Sunday school thing, read my Bible occasionally. When I realized how unhappy I was and regularly cried out to God, He turned my cries into JOY. A scheduled out, regular time of prayer is critical to spiritual growth. Praying on my knees or laying on the ground in submission also helps me remove my wicked pride and admit my depravity.

Next steps- Lord willing: 2 more years of pharmacy school, then most likely 2 years of work to gain clinical experience, 1 year of language school- then move to West Africa full time. I don’t know what country or agency yet. I have my leanings, but there is plenty of time to make a decision.