Cultural events, guest speakers, Taste of Nations Festival will highlight Global Focus Week

Liberty University’s LU Serve office will host Global Focus Week Sept. 22-26, an annual event aimed at raising global awareness among students, faculty, and staff. Students will have the opportunity to hear from globally influential Convocation guests, experience a variety of cultures, and participate in interactive events. Over 150 global workers from 47 organizations, including The Luke Commission, Greater Europe Mission, Operation Blessing, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Ethnos360, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and more, will be on campus to connect students with opportunities to serve globally.

The week kicks off on Monday with a Global Night of Worship on the Academic Lawn from 8-9 p.m., featuring the Liberty Worship Collective, and will culminate with the fan-favorite Taste of Nations Festival from 6-8 p.m. Friday on the Academic Lawn.

In past years, Taste of Nations — where international students share some of their favorite treats from their home countries — was a dining event in the Vines Center; this year it has been expanded into a festival with food trucks, live music, games, giveaways, interviews with international students, and more. The event is hosted by LU ONE and the International Student Center.

“The Taste of Nations Festival is such an awesome way to show support and love for all the amazing cultures represented on our campus,” said LU ONE Director of Communications and Student Engagement Melissa Harris. “By celebrating alongside our international students, we’re not only supporting them, but also learning from the richness they bring to our community.”

This year’s cuisine will include samples from Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, The Bahamas, USA, the Liberty Asian American Club, New Orleans, and the United Arab Emirates.

Participants will receive a Taste of Nations Passport, which can be stamped at each table they visit as a memento.

On Monday and Thursday from 1-4 p.m., students are also invited to visit the Montview Student Union for Global Flavors: Culture and Cuisine, where they can sample food and learn about different cultures from around the world.

Students will have multiple opportunities during Global Focus Week to learn about using their careers as a mission. Through Take Your Career to the Nations on Tuesday from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom, students will learn about career opportunities through Samaritan’s Purse. From 7-9 p.m. at the same location, they can attend GFW Silent Equip Sessions, a night of global training featuring the top topics students most often wrestle with about global missions — questions, fears, challenges, and more — all designed to better equip and mobilize them toward the Great Commission. With three 40-minute rounds of simultaneous audio-based breakout sessions, students can dive into one, two, or even three sessions with global practitioners.

On Wednesday in the Montview Ballroom, the workshop Business as Mission from 9:20-10:10 a.m. will feature experienced leaders in the mission field sharing stories from their careers and giving students practical insight on how to use business to reach the nations.

During Wednesday’s Convocation, students will hear from Samaritan’s Purse Chief Operating Officer Edward Graham.

“Global Focus Week reflects Liberty’s mission of Training Champions for Christ, a purpose transcending classrooms and future careers,” said Senior Director of LU Serve Steven Gillum. “Although the week is a lot of fun for students, the purpose goes beyond eating international foods. It’s where faith, learning, and careers engage a world filled with people groups who have never heard of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For many students, GFW is a defining experience for how they will live the rest of their lives for God’s glory.”

A full list of Global Focus Week activities is available online.