UB/HU Missions

Statement From the Church About Missions  

The United Brethren are engaged in mission because God is engaged in the mission of reconciling the world to himself in Christ. We are not a church with a mission; we are his church called to fulfill his mission. We agree with what scripture tells us in John 14:6 and Acts 4:12, that there is no other way for men, women or children to be saved than through Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life.

We also believe that Jesus calls us to engage in a mission that reaches beyond North America. In Acts 1:8 we are called to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. Note the conjunction used is not "or" or "then" but "and." God's mission is not a multiple choice, nor is it progressive. Rather the Great Commission consists of a simultaneous witness that takes place locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to people who are like us, and to those who are not.

As such, we get excited about joining with Huntington University to participate with students and faculty in a number of short term mission opportunities. Although I cannot be specific about some of the locations, I can say that there is not a region of the world where the United Brethren are working that we have not had Huntington University students involved. 

As United Brethren, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Huntington University and even stepping up our game in the coming months. We have been training mission team leaders for a number of years in local churches and believe the same training would be of benefit to students interested in leading short term teams. We have United Brethren international students on campus and would love to help them play host to friends and classmates so HU students can discovering what God is doing in their homeland. We also have a variety of opportunities for PRIME students to complete their internships, whether here at home or abroad. 

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries
Church of the United Brethren in Christ
October 9, 2013