More than 300 Lipscomb University students, faculty and staff are involved in international and domestic missions this summer.
More than 100 are participating in university-sponsored missions overseas, including new works in China and Croatia, said Earl Lavender, director of missions at Lipscomb.
Another group of more than 100 are participating through their home congregations or non-Lipscomb mission efforts, plus a large number involved in domestic mission efforts such as Camp Shiloh in New York, Kids Across America, and more. Not included are students who serve as interns in churches throughout the United States, Lavender said.
"We are sending groups or individuals to Albania, two groups to Brazil; Brisbane and Perth, Australia; China; Varazdin, Croatia; two groups to Britain; Kiev, Ukraine; Lima, Peru; Moshi, Tanzania; and Thailand" Lavender said.
The number also includes eight students who are part of the "LAMP" program - Lipscomb Apprentice Missionary Program, who are dedicating larger time periods -- from three to six months - to mission work. Nearly 40 students have participated in this program since its beginning three years ago.
More than 200 students participated in spring break trips, a number that increased from the previous year despite the world events of recent months.
The students worked in seven foreign countries and at four sites in the United States during spring break, Lavender said, including a group of 60 students who worked at the City of Children in Ensenada, Mexico.
"Initially, we had a lot of calls from concerned parents, so we expected a drop off from previous years. But we've had an increase in interest because of the questions raised by Sept. 11. Instead of fear, students are more passionate about being involved in important things," Lavender said.
Students worked with medical missions, orphanages and the homeless, on construction projects, in ministry projects with small churches, and Habitat for Humanity, among other projects, Lavender said.
"What we're trying to do in our mission program at Lipscomb is to say that life is not about success in business. It's about being faithful servants of God.
"So we're placing a greater emphasis on such activities as medical missions. A group will spend the summer digging wells. These activities are not to the exclusion of preaching, but do illustrate that everyone can be involved in ministry. We have a wider spread of students participating from across all disciplines, not just more ministry students. That's exciting to me," Lavender said.