Judson College starts partnership with Mexico

A recent missions trip to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, kicked off a partnership between the city’s Universidad Valle del Bravo (UVB) and Judson College in Marion that is slated to last at least three to five years.
   
The partnership, part of the Target Harvest initiative of the International Mission Board (IMB), links college ministries with different locations in Mexico in order to build long-term relationships among 18–29 year olds and pave the way for new church starts.
   
“It’s a really great idea that the IMB is using to address their understaffing in Mexico, and with us taking college students, it’s a natural connection with that age group there,” said Meredith Davenport, Judson campus minister. “And with the big-picture goal being to plant churches among that age group, it’s a much more exponential approach than direct evangelism.”
   
Teams of Judson students will travel to UVB at least every spring break and Thanksgiving holiday for the duration of the partnership, she said.
   
The first team, which traveled to Mexico in April, spent several days on the UVB campus and joined a local church two evenings on missions trips to disadvantaged neighborhoods. During their time at the university, Judson students made friends with UVB students and high school students who participate in a weekly program at the university.
   
The team built relationships so successfully that the students they met in Mexico are coming to visit Judson in October, Davenport said. “They are non-Christian students who have made some friends in the States and want to come experience our culture and get some linguistic experience like we did there.”
   
As a result, the whole school, not just campus ministries, will be involved in building relationships with the students during that time.
   
Judson senior Sharon Copeland said the students have continued their new friendships through e-mail. “God overcame language and cultural barriers,” she said. “Words can’t express what a blessing it was to be part of this venture, and I look forward to seeing what great things He has for the future of this relationship.”
   
The next team from Judson plans to head to Nuevo Laredo in November. (TAB)