Carson-Newman, North American Mission Board, give students opportunity to serve over Spring Break

Many Carson-Newman students are forgoing a typical “Spring Break trip,” and instead take part in the University’s timeless tradition of volunteering for mission trips during their break.

This year, Carson-Newman’s Campus Ministries partnered with Generation Send (GenSend) to send students to Denver, Pittsburgh and New Orleans to serve. GenSend is an experience made possible through the North American Mission Board, which works with colleges to develop and deploy a generation of students that live on mission.

Campus Ministries Director, Jeremiah Young, said students partner with church plants, volunteer at ministry centers and take part in evangelism. He added that the opportunity is not only limited to spring.

“As part of our continual commitment to send students throughout the world, we have students who will be serving with GenSend over the summer as well. GenSend missions gives them a small glimpse into what it looks like to serve on mission in these major cities, through the North American Mission Board,” he said.

Jordan Strainer, an elementary education senior, is among the students representing Carson-Newman in Pittsburgh.

“I felt the Lord’s call for me to go on Spring Break Missions. I felt like He was calling me to go to Pittsburgh. I expect to draw nearer to the Lord and my brothers and sisters in Christ,” she said.

Strainer will be involved in activities such as helping with food banks, packing and delivering backpacks for homeless children and those in foster care. She will also help with meals for the community and assist GenSend churches in the area to share the gospel.

“I hope to see God make a difference in Pittsburgh,” she said. “I hope to see people there come to know the Lord.”