DBU students serve and learn over spring break

DALLAS—More than 200 Dallas Baptist University students spent spring break traveling the country and the world to teach sports clinics, build houses, provide safe rides, sing in cathedrals, study leadership and explore international business.

Sports missions in Chile

The Lady Patriots volleyball team journeyed to Chile as a part of the DBU Global Sports Mission Initiative. The team partnered with the Amazing Grace School in La Serena, holding volleyball clinics for the students and teaching English classes. Many team members also had opportunities to share their Christian testimonies.

In addition to their work at Amazing Grace, the team played competitive games against two local La Serena colleges.

“It was such an honor to serve with the volleyball team in La Serena,” said Chris Holloway, director of global missions at DBU. “It is always amazing to see how God uses different talents to share his word.

“This week, the girls got to use volleyball as their platform to share Christ, and I know the lives of both Amazing Grace students and DBU students were changed. We look forward to continued partnership with them in the future.”

DBU’s Global Sports Mission Initiative began in 2007 and provides athletes the opportunity to travel overseas on mission trips, allowing them to utilize their athletic skills to serve others and share their faith.

Habitat homebuilding and Beach Reach

A 13-member student team took part in the 29th annual DBU Spring Break Habitat for Humanity trip. This year, the group headed to Palm Bay City, Fla., to help construct a home for a family.

“This team fulfilled the calling to be the hands and feet of the kingdom,” said Jacob Winslager, DBU director of student life. “It is always special to see the community built among the students who sacrifice their spring break to serve a family in need of a home.”

Closer to home, 98 students spent spring break providing safe rides and warm meals for students from other schools during the annual Beach Reach ministry at South Padre Island. 

Nearly 100 Dallas Baptist University students served with Beach Reach.“Beach Reach is such a unique ministry that we love being a part of each year,” said Matt Keefe, director of the Baptist Student Ministry at DBU. “It is incredible to see the gospel both verbally shared, as well as lived out by our students, who, by meeting the physical needs of food and transportation, open doors to share the love of Christ.”

Chorale performs in Italy

The DBU University Chorale, directed by Stephen Holcomb, spent spring break touring the cities and countryside of Italy and singing in several churches along the way. Highlights included planned performances at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Evangelical Baptist Church in Florence and Rome Baptist Church, along with services in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. 

Additionally, the chorale sang impromptu in other cathedrals and public forums throughout the tour. Wherever the chorale performed, people responded, saying they were touched by the heartfelt music and the sense of God’s presence in their midst, often asking more about the choir and where they were from.

Study groups in D.C., NYC and Korea

A 21-member student group traveled to Washington, D.C., with the Gary Cook School of Leadership to explore the leadership legacy of the nation’s founders. They toured historic sites, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the National Cathedral, Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.

A DBU group toured and attended services at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.“This trip is a great experience for students, because it expands their view of the world and challenges them to seek God’s calling in a new way,” said David Cook, director of the master of arts in leadership degree program. 

“As we hear from leaders in politics, law, the military and nonprofit organizations, our students get a sense of how God can use people across a wide spectrum of vocations for his glory.”

Others traveled to New York City to study business law and management under the direction of Jennifer Calhoun, assistant professor of management. Highlights of the trip included a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and a lecture by a former floor trader on the New York Stock Exchange and tour of Wall Street. The group also saw many New York tourist attractions, such as the Statue of Liberty and Central Park.

Another group of students traveled to Korea, visiting Seoul and Suwon with finance professor Jinsop Park to explore business on a global scale. They toured the Korea Stock Exchange, the Korea Financial Supervisory Service, the Royal Palace and the demilitarized zone.

“We seek to challenge our students to serve globally and locally,” DBU President Adam Wright said. “We are all becoming something, and we ask our students often who they are becoming. Our hope is that our students are growing in their commitment to become the servant leaders the Lord has prepared them to be.”