Kelsey Owens
  • Vocal Music Education
  • Gallipolis, OH

Kelsey Owens of Gallipolis Serves in Bolivia over Spring Break

2013 Apr 24

Kelsey Owens of Gallipolis spent spring break serving in Santa Cruz, Bolivia as part of a mission trip taken by Ohio Christian University students and staff with World Gospel Mission. The trip involved working to improve facilities at a seminary and ministering to local children.

At the Berea Bible Seminary, the team spent the better part of five days painting classrooms and benches for use by the seminary students and repairing torn window screens. Opportunities to get to know the seminary students were also enjoyed by the team, as many of them are the same age as the team members and at the same stage in their lives.

At the Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center, the team had the opportunity of sharing songs, skits, and devotions with students in Grades 1-6 for their Spiritual Emphasis Week. As you can imagine, there was lots of energy in the chapel each day as the kids entered the room expecting something fun and exciting.

Team members also had the opportunity to minister to homeless street kids through an outreach ministry of Youth With A Mission. Seeing these homeless and orphaned children and teenagers on the street was a real eye-opening experience, one that reminded the team of how blessed we are and how much we take for granted. The team readily donated clothing items to the street kids and have already seen them put to good use. Some of the team is still in contact with these kids through WGM missionaries.

Additionally, WGM missionaries were able to work it out for the team to visit an orphanage called Talita Cumi, which translates literally as "girl, rise up". This is a vital ministry that provides a home and family to about 30 orphans who otherwise would be left on the streets to fend for themselves.

Finally, the team was given the opportunity to visit a university ministry called El Alfarero, which translates as "the potter". This is a soon-to-open ministry of Sudan Interior Mission located in the heart of the university district of Santa Cruz. Within a one-kilometer radius of the center, there are 80,000 college students studying for their future careers. El Alfarero provides a state-of-the-art facility for students to receive career and life counseling, employment, and a positive environment for spiritual growth and maturity, and it is sure to reach multitudes for the Kingdom of God.

Many of the students received clear direction for their future lives and ministries because of this experience. Others were challenged to look at life and blessings differently. None will ever again be the same.

More than 3600 students attend Ohio Christian University, making OCU one of the fastest-growing universities in the nation. OCU is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally and spiritually. OCU offers degree programs for traditional undergraduate students, graduate students, and adult and online students. Additionally, the Trailblazer Academy, OCU's Dual Enrollment/Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program, allows high school students to complete college classes on campus or online. All programs are designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and the world.