Students Minister on Mexico Trip

By Kim Davis

God has not commissioned the church to bring the world to Christ God hascommissioned the churchto take Christ to the world Four LU students took advantage oftheirsummer vacation and made a difference forChristinMexico.

On Thursday,July18,1991,Missionquestbegan. At 5a.m JasonCampbell,StephenJames,Troy Champney and Paul Dudley together with Erick McConnell,a studentat JamesMadison University, Thad Bothem,a student atBrookville High School, and Ben Norman, a graduate ofRustburg High School, left theparking lot ofThomas Road Baptist Church.

Two days later they arrived in Saltillo,Mexico, where theywere involved in atwo-phaseministry- to evangelize and toprovide an opportunity for young people toexperience themissionfield.

Jason, senior business major and founder of Missionquest, organized and led this team of seven intoits first year He saidthatthis trip is agreat way fortoday's youth toexperience missions first-hand.

"I haveseenGod work in the heartsof young people in miraculous ways after they have been exposed directly to a foreign mission field," he said.

"Missionquestbelieves thatthe unreached childrenin Mexico is one oftheworld'smost fruitful fields for an evangelistic endeavor."

The team stayedwithveteranmissionariesJoey and Beverly Starlingat Rancho La Paloma, acamp located 7,250feetabove sea levelin the Sierra Madre Mountains During their week-long ministry, they used puppets, martial arts,singing,drama, youth camps and literaturedistribution tospread thegospel.

They alsoworked withover250childrenand adults at Vacation BibleSchool They performed as clowns in fourdifferentvillagesto promoteit,and had afternoon meetings, door-to-door visitation,tract distribution and village rallies,

"It's incredible,"Stephen said. "I had the opportunityto witnessthrough my actions, even though I was unable to speak the language Praise the Lord, the Gospel is forall ages."

This tripplayed an important partinhelping Jason determine God's willforhislife. "It's such a deep joy to havea partin seeingevenonechildcome to know the Lord Jesus, whom Iloveand want to serve," hesaid "I believethatoneday God coulduseme as amissionary, and so Ihave made a definite decision to extend a commitment inMexico."

Many people who responded through donations and prayers played a part in the overall success of Missionquest '91 LightMinistries, headed by Vernon Brewer, donated 1,000 tracts,a rental company donated a van, and Thomas Road Baptist Church membersalongwithfriends and relatives helped withother expenses.

"This was 100 percent a prayer trip," Jason said "God worked miracles every day."

Jason is excited about the future of Missionquest. "The team praisesGod for thetremendous responseof peopleto this crusadeministry, for themany salvation and rededication decisions,"he said "There is a new awareness of the need to servetheLord at home and in othercountries, and already threeteam members from Missionquest '91 arepreparing and planning forother ministry crusades inMexico."