Phil Bishop
Exercise Science & Kinesiology
University of Alabama
[April 29, 2014]
“Do what? Rich, you know this isn’t the way I do foreign mission trips,” I replied to Faculty Commons Staff member and friend Rich McGee.
I had made several international trips and had found that a Christian professor from America, by serving as a guest lecturer at foreign universities, can open doors and build new relationships for the local Cru team to advance their ministry there.
This time Rich proposed that I go to Haiti with him and about 50 undergrad students. I questioned what possible good I might do. It was not even on a university campus and I’d link up with a bunch of undergrads?
Rich said, “Come and see. We find projects are Better Together.”
In Miami I joined the 50+ undergrads and staff and we headed to Port au Prince. Once there, we loaded into the back of a pickup for the long ride to Chambrun. Reluctantly I admitted it WAS interesting and a little bit fun to head into the unknown with this group of young people. And, I didn’t have to give them a grade.
Serving alongside the students that summer made a huge impression on me. I still have contact with a surprising number of them, although that trip was in 2010!
In June of 2013 my wife and I were invited to go with a Summer Project team to Bologna, Italy. In July, a Summer Project came to us at the University of Botswana where I was a Fulbright Fellow. Of those I met in Italy last year, one Christian PhD student has kept in touch as he completed his dissertation. This young man wants to be a Christian professor in his home country of Brazil.
This summer my wife and I have agreed to participate in two Summer Projects, one to Rome, and another to Bologna.
As a Professor on such trips I get to meet with local students and challenge their assumption that Christianity is only for those who are intellectually inferior. It is quite possible that I may be the first Christian professor these Italian students have ever met.
The team hopes to launch a strategy in Bologna of mentoring PhD students who are future professors. Most of these will not be Christians, but we expect to influence them for the gospel through serving them in Jesus’ name.
How does Ministry on a Summer Project look? I found that besides giving lectures we can:
- Provide comfort to the American students. My wife excels at this.
- Share our testimonies.
- Make new friends; recruiting future Christian Professors.
- Serve: pouring tea, answering questions, carrying bags.
- Learn from the students: their views, issues, hurts, and dreams.
I’m convinced! It is Better Together!