Ironton resident among 38 people to go on mission trip

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With destinations of Russia, Greece, Zimbabwe and Ireland — in addition to four Kentucky communities — the 38 Kentucky college students and four coordinators serving through this summer’s “1:8 Leadership Experience” are sharing their Christian faith through a multi-faceted and multi-cultural approach.

Sarah Lambert, an Ironton resident and student at Morehead State University, is among those serving. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Ironton.

“The method the teams are using to share the gospel is literally changing day by day,” said Brian Combs, collegiate evangelism strategist for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

“One team may be working with kids at Missions Adventure Camp in Cedar Crest here at home and another team will be ministering to adults in an urban area such as Belfast, Ireland.”

Lambert is serving on the Cedar Crest Camp (Ky.)/Belfast, Ireland Team.

Created around Acts 1:8, which instructs Christians to take the Gospel message to “Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” the 1:8 Leadership Experience equips students to serve in their community, throughout Kentucky, across North America and overseas.

There is an application process, interviews and multiple training sessions prior to the start of the short-term mission trips.

“The mission trips are a highlight, but the 1:8 Leadership Experience is also about discipleship and helping students to grow spiritually into mature Christians who are then ready to disciple new believers,” Combs said.

Some of the teams will serve alongside established Kentucky Baptist congregations.

“Intentionally connecting the 1:8 Leadership Experience teams to local churches creates an environment where young adults and churches can learn from one another,” Combs said. “For some of our students, this is their first experience being part of a healthy congregation, and those students often come away with a desire to continue to engage churches like never before.”

Dozens of the 163 previous 1:8 participants have taken steps toward full-time Christian service, Combs added. Some already are serving through Southern Baptists’ international or North American mission boards. Others are enrolled in seminary or are continuing to minister on college campuses and in local congregations.

To stay up to date on the teams’ work this summer, visit www.facebook.com/kentuckybcm.

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky.

A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more.

For more information, visit the KBC website at www.kybaptist.org, find “Kentucky Baptist Convention” on Facebook or follow “@kentuckybaptist” on Twitter.