Northwestern students can now apply for a 2016 Summer of Service and will soon be able to apply for upcoming spring service projects.
Applications for international Spring Service Projects close today, but beginning Nov. 9, domestic applications will be accepted through the first week of second semester classes. These trips are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This spring break, 12 student-led groups will travel to different sites to participate in various Spring Service Projects.
Each SSP is led by one or two student leaders. who are selected with various characteristics taken into consideration. Coordinators look for spiritual maturity, personal maturity, the student’s expectation of leading peers on an SSP, their understanding of service, their cross-cultural readiness and their overall readiness to lead.
“Personality and spiritual maturity are the biggest things we look for,” said SSP coordinator, Natalie Wheeler.
For trips with more than one leader, compatibility between the two leaders is taken into consideration. The coordinators look at pairs of people whom they believe will work well together. An understanding of the culture and what to expect on site is also taken into consideration.
“We like to send students back to sites they’ve been to before,” said Patrick Hummel, director of short term missions.
Beginning in November, these student leaders will meet for two hours of training every week to prepare for the trip. After Christmas break, all students taking part in an SSP will meet weekly with their group to get to know one another, to pray, and to learn about cross-cultural ministry.
Three SSP groups will travel internationally to partner with United Christians International in Haiti, The Shelter Youth Hostels in The Netherlands and The Moravian Church in Nicaragua. There are only 30 spots available for the international trips, so coordinators must read through the 50 – 60 applications they receive and make decisions from there.
When it comes to international SSPs, coordinators are looking for teachable students who are willing to step out of their comfort zone. It helps if students have language skills for the location they are traveling to, but it is not necessary. Coordinators also take into consideration students who have traveled internationally before.
SOS coordinators look for many of the same characteristics.
“We send anyone who we think is ready to go,” Hummel said. “We are not looking for people who have everything together.”
A teachable spirit, a humble heart and maturity all factor into readiness for an SOS.
“A lot of students get scared out of doing an SOS because they think they need to be super-Christian or something,” said Krista Hamm, SOS coordinator. “We by no means are looking for perfect people.”
Unlike SSP, SOS locations have yet to be determined. Students pick countries and ministries they are passionate about. Coordinators then connect students with ministries in their location of choice and each student is paired with a mission team.
These teams are typically made up of individuals whom they’ve never met before.
SOS trips can last anywhere from six to 10 weeks.
