Global Focus Week Allows Students to Hear From Multiple International Missions Organizations

Global Focus Week hosted 36 mission organizations, with representatives telling students their stories and informing them of how they can be involved in reaching the world for Christ.

Throughout the week, students were able to interact with missions organizations including Samaritans Purse, World Relief and Send International. Booths from the organizations were located at the Montview Student Union and the Jerry Falwell Library, where students could speak with representatives and get involved in their ministries.

Global Focus week is one of the largest annual events held on Liberty’s campus. Throughout the week, students were able to interact with missions organizations including Samaritans Purse, World Relief and Send International. Booths from the organizations were located at the Montview Student Union and the Jerry Falwell Library where students could speak with representatives and get involved in their ministries.

“Our goal is that students truly discover how they can leverage their specific career, passions and talents in order to fulfill the Great Commission, whether in Boston or Miami, or even Paris and Kuala Lumpur,” Steven Gillum, LU
Serve director said. “And that students become challenged in their perspectives and exposed to different
worldviews through holistic content, cultural experiences and the many development opportunities at LU Serve.”

According to Gillum, one of the main highlights of GFW was the Refugee Simulation. This event consisted of a two-hour workshop where students were able to learn about what many refugees experience overseas. Attendees were able to hear the stories of specific families and the unique obstacles they face when fleeing their home because of persecution.

To gain a deeper understanding of the current refugee crisis on a larger scale, students were also able to attend Seeking Refuge: Understanding the Global Refugee Crisis. During this event, attendees heard from Matt Soerens, U.S Director of Church Mobilization and Advocacy for World Relief. As an expert on this issue, he was able to help students understand how great of a number of refugees are displaced around the world and what Christians should be doing
do about it.

“I definitely gained a greater understanding of how serious the current refugee situation is,” Jacob Chace, a junior studying international relations, said. “I don’t think this crisis is emphasized enough. I have never even been to a church where they talked about helping refugees before; something has to change.”

Along with learning about how to fulfill the Great Commission in a practical way, students were also able to experience art and music from other cultures. For instance, LU Serve hosted a variety of fun events forstudents to attend, such as a global concert and world food market. Additionally, LU Serve hosted Navigating Cultural Meals, a workshop designed to help students understand how to eat properly in different cultural contexts.

This year, some aspects of GFW looked different due to COVID. Gillum noted that extensive planning and coordination with the Student Health and Wellness Center took place to make sure this event could continue while keeping everyone involved safe. Because of this, masking and social distancing was enforced, and events had limits on number of attendees.

Allen Moro is a New Reporter.