Students will have the opportunity to serve the local community through InterVarsity’s annual mission trip during spring break, March 7-13. 

“The goal of the trip is to encourage students in their faith and serve our community,” InterVarsity Campus Staff Carly Boerema ’23 said. “It is important for the college to connect with the broader Hillsdale area, and this is a wonderful way to build bridges and lasting connections. We hope to share the gospel as we serve, sharing the love of Christ through both our words and actions.”

The trip this year will be entirely local and will work with about 10 ministries in the area, as well as studying the Bible with local pastors, according to Boerema. Housing, meals, and transportation will be provided. The cost for the week is $30. 

Junior Eden Ryan, who has attended the mission trip for the past two years, said the trip is an opportunity to grow in faith and friendships while serving the community.

“The spring break mission trip was a whole week where we dedicated our minds to always be thinking about how to share Christ with others,” Ryan said. “I developed strong, God-centered friendships and got to enjoy God’s gift of fellowship. Serving alongside girls and sharing testimonies, praying together for God’s kingdom to be advanced drew us together so much more than anything up to that point.”

Boerema said the trip is open to all denominations and is meant to teach students about the Gospel, as well as to proudly share it. 

“Our theme verse for the week is Romans 1:16-17: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith,’” Boerema said. “Sharing the Gospel is not always easy, but as Paul states, we are not ashamed, as it is the power of salvation for all who believe.” 

Students can sign up through a link in both the Student Activities Office and InterVarsity newsletters. 

“Take this free week you have to join in the work Christ has called us to,” Ryan said. “Work alongside your brothers and sisters. Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back.”