Isaiah, in chapter 35, describes the joy that comes as water gushes forth in the desert. What started as a trickle of interest in missions at Greenville College ten years ago is now breaking forth with new energy and involvement by students, faculty and staff in ministering to underprivileged communities ... locally, in the US and overseas. The growing list of initiatives includes Greenville's Simple Room, Katrina Relief, Habitat for Humanity, an Asian partnership, the Rwanda Project, and Guatemala and Dominican Republic missions trips. In addition, the annual Global Impact Week, now in its third year, exposes students to various issues and agencies serving the poor and facilitates student involvement. 

The Global Impact Week concept was adopted by Liz Hehman, Greenville College director of World Outreach and Missions, from Trinity International University, where Hehman served in a similar position. Having previous experience with a project like this, she was familiar with various missions organizations who were seeking opportunities to interact with college students. During Global Impact Week, the college hosts chapel speakers and seminars led by missions representatives as well as organization exhibits in the dining area. Students connect with these guests throughout the week, learning about the ways they can get involved through traditional missions and creative methods of ministry. "We want students to think about how they can use their degree," Hehman stated. "They don't have to change their passion, their interests, and their strengths to impact the world."

Long-term partnerships with Asia and Rwanda have resulted in multiple opportunities for students to serve. In Asia students teach English in camps set up by the schools and universities. For five weeks, one American student takes the responsibility of teaching up to 30 Asian students. Along with English, teachers can discuss western culture with the students. This interaction facilitates new relationships and provides opportunities for meaningful conversations between teachers and students.

The Rwanda Project (TRP), a multifaceted mission, began about two years ago. Faculty, staff, students and members of the local community have completed research and missions trips to this country in order to determine future opportunities for service and economic development. During the most recent trip in January 2007 GC students and faculty taught English, helped mothers find adequate health care for their children, and examined potential sites for a new water purification system. Future projects in the region may include building a pork processing plant, establishing a water purification system, and developing a fish pond micro-enterprise, which will be financially supported in part by a pumpkin patch in Greenville planted by GC Junior Travis Hall.

Many students inspired by these activities have taken personal initiative to respond to the mission field. Kevin Kirchner participated in the Go-ED off-campus semester with Food for the Hungry in Africa last spring, Lorraine Wiles spent the summer in Swaziland, Africa, Catherine Burns spent the summer in India working with Project Rescue, and a number of students plan on taking an outreach trip to Guatemala in January 2008.

  "The watershed moment is the way that God is moving our students to engage the world," Hehman stated. "[Global impact] is a symbiotic concept. ... It's about us engaging the world. The first thing we think about is us impacting the world, engaging the world, and bringing new resources and information to their need; but it is equally about the world impacting us. When we talk about global impact, we're talking about using our God given gifts to bless and impact others, but we're also talking about being impacted so that we have a deeper, richer faith and understanding of God's character and our own life journey."