Climb Experience - transformative gap-semester program

Published: January 31, 2024

Author: Minh Do

Don’t know what to do after you graduate high school? How about a gap-semester program that combines education and ministry in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic? Greenville University is partnering with Score International Ministries, an international sport-ministry program in the Dominican Republic to launch The Climb Experience. If you are not ready to start your college career on a campus or to enter the workforce, this is a wonderful time for you to travel and experience new cultures while serving others and learning about yourself.

At The Climb Experience, students will experience an immense amount of growth, that will help them to determine who they are, what is their calling, and what it means to serve. At Score International’s campus in Juan Dolio, you will receive a total of 15 transferable college credits and live together in apartments. The Climb Experience offers a total of five classes: an introduction to Spanish, a bible class with a focus on gospel, a theology class that explores various ministry topics, a business Class on financials of non-profit ministry, and lastly the Experience First Class in which students gain immersive cultural and ministry experiences and write reflections on their personal growth.

Students gain knowledge and experience by learning about how to do something then actively applying it into their experiences. In the classroom, students will learn how to read the Bible, analyze how to share the gospel, and explore various ministry topics including church, community, God, love, service, and discipleship. After meaningful learning and conversation in the classroom, students will apply what they have learned in the real world as they attend service trips to ministry sites and serve the community by serving food, doing light labor, playing with children, and creating fellowship with community members.

Climb students can run vacation bible school events where students can teach, sing and dance with the kids. In this program, students will learn about ministry and how to share the good news with other people. At these ministry sites, they will have the opportunity to tell people about God and share their faith. The main goal is to be in a relationship with those whom they are serving and approaching the community with humility and Christ-like love.

This is a faith-based education and ministry program, not a vacation. Yes, there will be plenty of opportunities for the students to do exciting excursions and have fun, but the main goal of this program is to learn about serving other people and to experience the value of living simply and humbly. Kyle Sunderland, the Executive Director, will meet all serious prospects and interview them, determining if they are a good fit for the program. One of the things that Kyle will be helping facilitate is the cultural immersion aspect of the Climb program: what is important in the value of living in another culture, and how can students be challenged and impacted for life by doing ministry. There will definitely be times that students are uncomfortable, and it is part of the growth process.

Students will be supervised and kept safe, but also given the opportunity to learn to be independent. Leaving home after high school is a valuable time for students to learn how to provide for themselves as well as to determine who they are. Throughout the program, students will be taken care of and be provided with housing and meals but will also be expected to learn the skill of self-sufficiency and how to live with and serve others. Being in a new place and in an unfamiliar culture will teach students how to humbly respect the values and norms of those who are different, approaching the community with openness and sensitivity.

Not a lot of gap semester programs include adventure, accredited classes, experiential education, and service. The Climb Experience program will include adventurous experiences while students will also learn to value serving those in need and will find a deeper appreciation for ministry. While serving and enjoying exciting experiences, students will be receiving college credits that will give them a head start on their academic career after the gap-semester abroad is completed. If you are interested in taking part or supporting this program, contact Kyle Sunderland for more information: Kyle Sunderland, The Climb Experience, 618.690.2225.