A team of 37, including 17 from Baptist Bible College, spent their spring break ministering in the Philippines with Lance and Melanie Gotcher. Others on the trip included 11 more college students from Springfield, staff members from Granbury Baptist Church in Granbury, TX and staff members from Church of Celebration in Maricopa, AZ.
Gotcher shared, “I told our team before we left what I try to tell everyone who will listen, ‘The Philippines right now is a place where the fields are white already unto harvest.’” While on the trip, the group was able to serve over 600 meals and build connections through various MANNA centers. They also shared 18 sermons, lessons and testimonies. All which led to 851 people coming to know Christ as Savior. Gotcher goes on to share, “One of the biggest goals for Melanie and me was realized with seven members from the team surrendering their lives to full-time missions.”
Each member of the team took many steps of faith over the eight day trip. For some, it was their first time on a plane. For others, it was their first time getting a passport and visiting a new country. For some of the young men it was preaching their first sermon. For some of the young ladies it was going out on the Sunday School outreaches and teaching children in challenging circumstances. Each person on the team went into public school classrooms and shared the gospel. Many were able to personally lead someone to faith in Christ.
Gotcher gives credit to Baptist Bible College for the trip being so effective. He states, “The professors and staff are doing an amazing job of preparing these young people for ministry and it was evident in the Philippines. I am thankful for a school, where two of my own daughters attend, that has a global vision for their students to reach the world with the Gospel.”
BBC President, Mark Milioni, has stated that one of his goals is for every BBC student to serve on a mission trip at some point during their time as a student.