The urban ministry trip is a once-a-semester opportunity for approximately thirty lady students to experience inner-city ministry first-hand in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year’s trip took place on November 6–8, 2009. A student team leader is selected, and everyone is given responsibilities for ministry over the weekend. Mr. Peter DeMaris and Pastor Lee Ormiston of Family Baptist Church seek to expose the girls to as many inner-city ministries as possible during the short stay. The itinerary changes a bit each trip but most often includes a tour of a prominent homeless shelter, a time of canvassing, a Gospel presentation to children in the park, a tour of the troubled parts of the city, music ministry and various teaching opportunities on Sunday, and multiple other ministries. The purpose of the trip is to expose our students to the incredible need for various ministries in the inner cities of America, and many come back with a renewed understanding of the urgency and opportunities for ministry. The students below shared their experiences and how the trip impacted them individually. Check out the Extension Ministries pages to find out more about the opportunities that students have to minister while enrolled at Northland.
Sarah Harley
“I had the opportunity to be a part of Northland’s Urban Ministry Trip to Minneapolis. I ended this trip with an even greater burden for inner-city ministry. I had the opportunity to attend a Muslim mosque and observe their prayer time. Seeing these Muslims’ faith and dedication to a god who isn’t even alive was such a rebuke to me. I worship the true and living God, and many times my devotion to Christ isn’t as deep as those Muslims’ devotion to a god who cannot even hear them. I left that mosque saddened for those lost souls but also thankful for the blood of Jesus Christ that took away my sin. Through this trip, I developed a deeper love and gratitude for Christ and all that He did to save me. I ended that weekend with a greater burden to reach the inner city with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Heather Haines
“I had the wonderful opportunity of traveling on the Urban Ministry Trip this semester. The trip was very eye-opening. We were able to see a Catholic homeless shelter, a mosque, and go out on a prostitute outreach. Through these experiences, God opened my eyes and in some cases rebuked me. God also showed me, especially through the prostitute outreach, that these aren’t people to look down on. The only reason I’m not living a life like they are is because of the grace of God. Overall through this weekend, God showed Himself mighty and merciful. I am so thankful to be serving the one, true God.”
Emily Jordan
“I’m not sure what I was expecting when the Lord allowed me to go on the Urban Ministry Trip last weekend. But even if I had a list of expectations to share, nothing would have matched the actual experience. I have been burdened for foreign missions for a long time, but I’m so thankful that God opened my eyes to the mission field here in the States. Three things were most impacting to me about the trip. One was the testimony of a sister in Christ, named Diane, who has struggled with a drug addiction for years but has found freedom in Christ and now serves Him passionately every day. She emanated the love of Christ as a walking picture of what His grace can do. Secondly, we were able to visit a mosque and talk with some Muslim women. The obvious spiritual oppression they are under was impossible to witness without being changed. My compassion for these women grew as they told us their stories. Lastly, the Lord blessed us to let us take part in a ministry to witness to prostitutes. The intensity of such an experience will not be soon forgotten, as I faced the reality of sin and the grace of God in a whole new way. I left Minneapolis with one thought: my love is so small and conditional! I saw the way God was using broken people to touch the lives of other people, and the brightness of that only highlighted my own pride and selfishness. It really is all about the Gospel and the glory of God! I praise Him for the way He used the trip to humble me, and I pray that He will continue to remind me of a grace that stooped to rescue even a sinner like me.”