John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Partners with Local and Global Churches

This spring break, students and faculty joined Coastal Community Church (Yorktown, Virginia) to partner with churches in the Middle East. The group ministered to refugee women and children, participated in youth and young adult leadership training, partnered with a local school, and visited Mt. Nebo and Jesus’s baptism site.

Arabic, global studies, and women’s leadership students served together. A global studies student, Lily, said, “It was a privilege to serve with the local church as they steward every resource to impact their community. God is alive in the Middle East, and His Kingdom is at work through His local church.”

Dr. Sherene Khouri, professor of Arabic and global studies, said, “As we Train Champions for Christ, we should expose students to a region unfamiliar to them. Immersing them in that region’s language and culture and allowing them to meet the real heroes on the ground is a necessity to learn how to practice ministry in times of persecution and freedom.”