Annual trip provides leadership growth while strengthening college students’ faith
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes recently returned from their 9th annual college missions trip.
Thirty-two college students and seven leaders took part in this year’s trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The group included students from 10 colleges across Western Illinois. Many of the students attend Illinois College or Quincy University. The remainder of the group is made up of Jacksonville area students that attend college elsewhere.
The goal of the trip is for students to grow in their faith by serving others, participating in daily devotionals and taking part in a variety of educational experiences, all while living in community and unplugging from all of the technology and stress that we live with daily.
This year’s activities included running a “Doing Sports God’s Way” camp for area youth, volunteering at The Exceptional Foundation (an educational facility for adults with disabilities) and cleaning up a state park recreational area.
The students toured The Andrew’s Institute to learn about the latest scientific advances in orthopedics and sports performance training, visited The National Aviation Museum to watch The Blue Angels training session and closed out the week with an eco-tour on a catamaran.
Past trips varied in location and have included hurricane cleanup in Mexico Beach and Port Aransas, Texas; house repair in Seagrove Beach; leading of camps in Gulf Shores; touring historical sites in Montgomery, Alabama; and other service activities.
The constant in all the trips revolves around spiritual growth while doing life with other college students. Several students have chosen to be baptized in the Gulf of Mexico in the past three years, and a number of other students have decided to pursue careers in ministry. Friendships are formed and relationships built. Leaders emerge and students return to campus with a better understanding of why they believe what they believe.
