Psychology students travel to Ireland to learn from groups advocating for victims of violence, human trafficking

Last month, 13 students from Liberty University’s Department of Psychology traveled to Ireland to partner with various institutions specializing in different areas of care, from human trafficking prevention to mental health support.

The experience provided students the chance to apply their classroom education in practical ways while simultaneously shining as a light for the Gospel. Students on the trip received three credits for their PSYC 499 internship requirement. The trip, which ran from July 4-17, was sponsored by LU Send, the office that facilitates student group travel and study abroad for Liberty.

Because of Ireland’s strict privacy laws protecting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, Liberty’s team was unable to directly interact with the victims but instead focused its attention on working with the overarching organizations advocating for change. They met with officials from Depaul International, which provides resources for homeless individuals; Ruhama, which supports women ensnared in prostitution or sex trafficking; Men’s Development Network, which aims to promote change and equality in society; Oasis House Women’s Refuge, which provides lodging for domestic violence victims; Love and Care for People, which raises awareness about family violence; and Dublin Rape Crisis Center.

Psychology Adjunct Professor Kim Arbelo, who served as a faculty leader for the trip, admitted that she was originally discouraged by the inability to personally work with victims, but her perspective changed when she learned about the prominence of these organizations.

“When we went to church on Sunday, I was telling the pastor and his wife the different organizations we were working with. And they looked at me in shock and said, ‘How did you end up getting with those organizations? They are the people making the laws. They are the people very high up there that most people don’t come in contact with.’ In that moment, the Lord hit me with, ‘You thought you were here for one mission, I have you here for a totally different reason.’”

Arbelo said the team found comfort in Philippians 1, where Paul is imprisoned but uses the opportunity to share the Gospel with the Roman palace guard.

“It hit me in that moment that the Lord had put us, just like Paul (where He wanted), planting seeds for the Gospel,” she said.

Arbelo noted that despite the country’s strong historical connection with Christianity, many citizens have turned their backs on Christ in response to hurt they have experienced from the Catholic Church. As the populace continues to distance itself from the Christian faith, public evangelism has dwindled.

Through various ministry opportunities, Liberty’s team was able to share the Good News of Jesus’ love while simultaneously gaining insight into major issues affecting the Irish population.

“That was an interesting reminder that even though we don’t share faith with these people and organizations, we do share a common goal and values, like the belief that people have worth and are deserving of respect, protection, and care, and that we should seek to help others whenever we can,” said apologetics senior Malachi Evoy, who is pursuing a minor in psychology.

“It reminded me of the Inside Out method from my apologetics (classes),” he added. “That’s where you seek to find common beliefs with the person you are engaging with to build a bridge with them before challenging them on their worldview and presenting how the Christian worldview is best, and answering those big questions in life like (the reason we have) evil and suffering, which we were exposed to quite a bit of on this trip.”

Evoy, who lives in Ontario, Canada, and is completing his studies through Liberty University Online Programs, said the trip also provided him and his classmates the opportunity to experience a culture completely different from their own. With a stronger cultural intelligence, Christians are better equipped to build relationships with others and ultimately reach the world with the Gospel.

“Seeing how different cultures view Christianity really frames your mind so you can better witness to other people about the Gospel,” he said. “If you don’t know or you have a low cultural intelligence, you’re going to spread the Gospel (poorly) and it’s going to fall on deaf ears. It really builds up confidence to be able to talk to different cultures about Jesus.”

Arbelo, who has herself been on five LU Send trips and three as a faculty leader, said LU Send trips provide incredible opportunities for residential and online students to practically apply their classroom learning in the real world and make a major impact in the lives of others.

“We are one body with a lot of different parts,” she said. “When we get to apply what we’ve been learning in our degree program overseas, we get to see it in 3D. We’re not only seeing what we’ve been learning come to life, but now we’re seeing it across different cultures and we’re getting to see it in a new light. I love that these students are not only wrestling with what it looks like to be a Christian in the workforce, but now it is, ‘What does it mean to be a Christian in the workforce across different cultures? And how can I reach these people?”