Acting out the story of David and Goliath, hosting a backyard Bible club and praying in Spanish were just a few of the things that University of Mobile (UMobile) students did in Montgomery during a 48-hour inner-city missions trip.
Just a few hours north of their campus in Mobile, students discovered ministry opportunity after ministry opportunity — chances to demonstrate their servant hearts. Through the university’s Urban Plunge weekend, students realized that missions do not exist only across an ocean but also in their back yard.
The UMobile Campus Life program sent out 12 student-led teams to six capital cities in the Southeast: Atlanta; Montgomery; Baton Rouge, La.; Jackson, Miss.; Nashville; and Tallahassee, Fla. The idea was to “plunge” the 125 students into an urban environment for an intense 48-hour missions experience Nov. 5–7 and impact urban cities with the love of Christ through service.
Mallory Green, a sophomore majoring in intercultural studies and English, led a team that worked with The Community of Hope in Montgomery.
“Many of these kids had never heard the story of David and Goliath before, and it was a humbling and exciting experience to get to be the first ones to tell them a story from God’s Word,” Green said. “We asked them questions at the end, and they answered them so well. After that, we explained the significance of the story and that no matter what is going on in their life at that time, God is bigger. We were also able to present the plan of salvation to them.
“It was a beautiful thing to be able to love these children with the love of Christ and be a part of His plan for reaching our ‘Judea and Samaria,’” she added.
Students also had the opportunity to put their Spanish skills to work. Some people in an apartment complex did not have beds, and the team reached out to provide them with mattresses. On Nov. 5, team members put their muscles to work by loading up the mattresses on a truck and then delivered them the next day.
“It was so amazing that the Lord would allow us to be a part of meeting that physical need as He softened their hearts to see their spiritual need. It had a largely Hispanic population, and some on our team were able to speak with them in Spanish and pray with them as well.
“Others used translators through means of older children in the neighborhood,” Green said.
Another group ministering in the Montgomery area served lunch and held a Bible study at a homeless ministry Nov. 5. The next day, it installed insulation in a Habitat for Humanity house.
Group leader Ryan McPhail, a junior majoring in accounting, said, “My eyes were opened to the living conditions of some people, and I realized how blessed I really am. I was able to pass on that blessing in a small way by serving with my time.” He said before Urban Plunge, many students had no clue of the needs of the people in Alabama.
The other teams reached out in several ways. In Tallahassee, students helped replace a woman’s roof.
“She had been waiting six months for her roof to be replaced, and because of our team, she will have a new roof in two weeks,” said Amanda Roach, a junior majoring in business management.
Baton Rouge teams hosted block parties, a team in Jackson did Bible studies for women coming out of prison, the Nashville team helped renovate the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes facilities and a team in Atlanta worked with girls who had been trapped in human trafficking.
“I had never known how huge this problem (trafficking) was until I worked with this organization. It broke my heart,” said Josh Allen, a junior majoring in intercultural studies. Urban Plunge came to an end, but the lasting effects remain on the hearts of the students.
“The Lord showcased His holiness and plan for the lost this weekend and allowed us, even in some small way, to be a part of it,” Green said. “Praise Him, for we exist to make His name famous and for nothing else.” (UMobile)
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