May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways might be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. // Psalm 67:1-2
FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS all over the country, spring break means road trips to big cities and balmy beaches. Northwestern students do that too, but some of them pack a hammer. Northwestern College annually sends 170+ students, faculty and staff in teams to serve with ministries in the U.S. and around the world. SSP teams aid in natural disaster recovery, minister in prisons, tutor at youth centers, serve in soup kitchens and homeless shelters, and more.
Students who participate in SSP work with their individual teams to raise the funds necessary for their team's trip. Many students raise financial and prayer support through the help of their family, friends and home churches. Funds raised in excess of team totals are used to support other Spring Service Partnerships, are given as donations to the ministries where students serve, and are used for SSP operational expenses.
Through SSP, the efforts of a variety of ministries are encouraged, supported and helped in tangible ways. In addition, students have the opportunity to see God at work in the world, to understand their responsibility for responding to the needs of others, and to recognize their individual call to participate in the reconciling work of God's kingdom.
Denver, Colorado
Mile High Ministries
by Alexandra Dobesh '25
For the fifth consecutive year, Northwestern served with Mile High Ministries. MHM connected students with ministries such as Denver Rescue Mission, through which they learned about homelessness, served meals at homeless shelters, sorted food donations, and visited a facility specializing in care for individuals suffering from addiction.
Learning to love
Many of us began this trip with an unclear view of the homeless population. For example, we grew up hearing you should not give them money because they will spend it on drugs and alcohol. This trip really helped us to view people experiencing homelessness as normal people. They have needs just like anyone else, and those needs go beyond the physical. When we see people on street corners now, hopefully we will reach out to them with compassion instead of turning the other way.
Pulled by hope
It was a challenge to be presented so bluntly with some of the pain of this world, and those encounters unearthed a lot of heavy emotions: anger, despair and hopelessness, to name a few. The leaders we worked with taught us that feeling your heart break in response to brokenness is not a bad thing; in fact, it is God sharing his heart with you. But we were told it is important to love good more than you hate evil. We have to be pulled by hope more than we are pushed by anger. This is a difficult balance to strike, but it is necessary if we want to pursue the work of God’s kingdom.
Kansas City, Kansas
Youthfront
by Elena Lee '24
For the sixth year, Northwestern joined Youthfront in serving the Argentine community of Kansas City, Kansas—a diverse neighborhood that is home to many first-generation immigrant families. Northwestern students painted, cleaned, played with local kids at an after-school program, and assisted with food distribution.
God-given gifts
Our hosts at Youthfront emphasized that every community—no matter its economic status—has gifts of the heart, head and hands. You don’t need a large paycheck or a specific skill set to serve, but rather a heart that feels for those around you and the abilities God has already given you. It can be tempting to think of low income as synonymous with low resource, but this “gift” mentality and the people we met completely changed my way of thinking. I could also see how each member of our team shared a specific skill to serve and benefit those we worked with.
Expressions of worship
Throughout the week, we met with various Christ followers, attended church services that weren’t in English, and heard stories from people whose backgrounds were starkly different from our own. This trip brought to light the diversity of God’s kingdom, and it was incredible to see how the people of Argentine worshipped and engaged with God. At times, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged what I had previously thought a church service or Christ follower should look like, but it also showed me that there is no “right” way to have a relationship with God. These experiences have encouraged me to attend some of the Spanish services in Sioux County so I can continue to learn more about my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Compton, California
Emmanuel Reformed Church
by Elizabeth Olsen '23
As part of Emmanuel Reformed Church’s Compton Initiative, Northwestern students served the community by painting a house, building a fence, doing yardwork, delivering meals to the homeless and playing with neighborhood children.
Light in the darkness
Throughout this experience, God taught me there is hope and light in even the darkest of places. Compton is known for its high crime and poverty rates, but the community of believers we stayed with is committed to transforming the city from the inside out. Their witness is a beacon of light in Compton, and I was constantly filled up by their joyous hearts and positive spirits. It was an honor to serve alongside such loving and accepting Christ followers, and I plan to take that love with me going forward.
Ask and receive
The first Sunday we were there, we attended City Church of Compton. At the end of the service, the pastor asked people who needed prayer and encouragement to raise their hands. Then the rest of the congregation was invited to come alongside these people and pray with them individually. It was eye-opening for me to see the congregation’s willingness to admit when they needed help, as well as the church’s intentionality in loving and supporting one another. As Christians, we sometimes feel like we have to put up a front and pretend everything is OK. But as members of the body of Christ, we are called to be intentional about both giving and receiving love and support.
Croc, Mexico
Youthfront
by Kyle Christy '23
In partnership with Youthfront, Northwestern students worked at an after-school program for children ages 4 to 12, playing with them and helping with painting projects. The group also served lunch at an immigration camp and heard the stories of refugees from Honduras and Haiti.
Taking the first step
My experience in Croc taught me that simply “feeling bad” for someone is not enough. When our hearts break, we need to enter the suffering of those in pain. Whether it’s meeting an individual’s physical needs of food, shelter, water or money; playing with kids to bring them joy in the present moment; or simply listening to someone’s story, a step needs to be taken to show compassionate care.
Rewarding smiles
Because our work was mainly relationship-based, sometimes it was hard to recognize our immediate purpose in serving the community. But the kids’ energy and the smiles on their faces as we played together were priceless, causing us to smile as well. I will continue to pray that they will hold on to the hope that they are loved by our group and the Lord above.
Mescalero, New Mexico
Mescalero Reformed Church
by Emily Kraft '23
At Mescalero Reformed Church, Northwestern students assisted with yardwork, painting and cleaning around the church grounds, as well as leading a youth night for teens. A few students also visited the Mescalero schools and sat in on classes to learn more about the area’s Native American heritage.
God of all people
Despite the community’s many struggles, the people of Mescalero had so much joy and hospitality to share. We could see their trust in God so evidently—they believed in and surrendered themselves whole-heartedly to his plan. Our team was also reminded that God is a God of all people. It is easy to get caught up in our own culture and how we view faith, but it was beautiful to see another culture serving the same God in their own way. It was eye-opening to see how our shared faith—although expressed differently—could still connect us all.
Making connections
Throughout our time in Mescalero, we were encouraged by the improvements made in completing simple tasks around the church. Interacting with members of the community brought us so much joy—especially when we spent time with the kids who were able to visit us. Having to leave this community was a challenge. Within a short amount of time, we grew close to the people there and knew that we would miss them the minute we left.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Urban Impact / Castle Rock Community Church
by Joshua Thomas '23
The Red Raider football team traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to serve with Urban Impact and Castle Rock Community Church. Students mulched, weeded and raked leaves around the church, as well as cleaned trash from abandoned lots. In the afternoons, the team hosted a football camp at the local rec center, led after-school Bible studies and helped kids with their homework.
Christ-like acceptance
There are many societal differences between Orange City and New Orleans, but this SSP experience taught me that God is working throughout the world. I was accepted by the youth and community of New Orleans, and it was great to have conversations with them about what God is doing in their lives. Just as they accepted me, we are called to accept and love others, as Christ also did for us.
The gift of presence
Interacting with the kids at and around Castle Rock Community Church showed my team and I that kids will always be kids no matter the society or community they grow up in. For a variety of reasons, many of these kids lack adequate care and support, but our team members were able to connect with them and show individual attention through coaching, teaching and everyday conversations. Seeing the effects of our service reflected to us through a kid’s smile or laughter made our work very fulfilling and joyful.
Opelousas, Louisiana
Hope for Opelousas
by Madelynn Harre '22 and Kaylee Bandstra '25
Northwestern was the first college to send a service team to Opelousas in 2008, and teams have returned every year since. This year, students helped with preparations for an art show fundraiser, setting up art pieces and serving food. The team also painted classroom buildings, gardened, completed landscaping projects, and tutored children in the after-school program.
Moved by love
The community of Opelousas taught us that love changes everything. God’s love is the ultimate mover and shaker—especially when it comes to racial or social inequality. The children we served were immediately welcoming and wanted to play and create relationships with us. The staff of Hope for Opelousas showed love to us and to each other, and our student team supported one another throughout the experience. God blessed our trip with people who had open hearts and humble souls to accept the deep love shown and to wrestle with the brokenness of where we were serving.
Gratitude despite brokenness
The gratitude shown to us during our time serving with HFO brought me so much joy. Many people associated with the nonprofit made our team meals every night to show their appreciation for our work. I also saw thankfulness through the kids’ smiles as we played with them and showed them love. This SSP challenged me by revealing the racial tension that is still within the U.S., and it made me realize the history of segregation and racism is more recent than it is in the past. It hurt to see the brokenness of Opelousas, but it was amazing to see the joy on the faces of our new friends.
Puerto Rico
Mazatlán Missions
by Ellie Natelborg '22
Partnering with Mazatlán Missions, Northwestern students were assigned to three different work sites where they assisted community members in cleaning, painting homes, sealing a roof, landscaping, and power-washing a family’s garage.
Breaking barriers
God taught us so many lessons from serving in Puerto Rico. Working alongside such joyful and hard-working team members challenged me to serve with a positive attitude. Additionally, hearing everyone’s testimonies throughout the week inspired me to be more vulnerable. It was awesome to work toward a common goal with a group that was passionate about serving. The people we served were very appreciative, and that was also meaningful to see. They generously showed their love back to us, demonstrating that love can break every border—including language barriers.
Words of encouragement
Something that really impacted me and changed the way I view things was a specific moment at church. I was feeling a little discouraged that first day in Puerto Rico, like I didn’t have a purpose to be there and serve. At the end of the church service, a lady came up to me and told me God chose me and brought me to Puerto Rico for a specific reason. Even though it was a simple reminder, it was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. From then on, I was encouraged by those around me and the Puerto Ricans we met, and I truly felt God at work in my heart. This experience taught me to be more open to the ways God will use me and that being uncomfortable is often the best way to grow.
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Coldwater Foundation
by Joseph Callahan '23
For more than 10 years, Northwestern students have assisted the staff at Coldwater Foundation, including founder Kevin Sutton ’92, in preparing for their summer wilderness camp programs. This year, students shoveled snow, installed windows and doors at the base camp’s new kitchen, and packed meals for outdoor trips. The team also hosted a youth night at an after-school ministry called North Point, providing outreach to area teens.
Cultural awareness
In addition to helping with service projects, we visited the Anishinaabe homeland, or Grand Portage Reservation. While there, we listened to tribal councilman and racial activist John Morrin share his experiences with discrimination and racial profiling. His story greatly convicted our group, and we had a three-hour debrief the next morning to reflect on what he shared. This experience gave me a huge new curiosity for Native culture and has shifted my perspective on the historical treatment of Native Americans.
Strength found in others
As the student leader for the Grand Marais team, God taught me I can lead from a position of weakness because my real strength is found in the group I am with and from God. I felt like God was very active in our group and when I let go of my plans as a leader, that was when he paved the way to really fun conversations and meaningful adventures.
Mingo County, West Virginia
World Renew / Able Families
by Makayla Bjork '22
Along with World Renew and Able Families, Northwestern partnered with several local organizations to help Mingo County rebuild following severe flooding. The team replaced flooring and wallpaper in residential homes, painted a firehouse, built a walking bridge, repaired a backyard deck, and restored a children’s playground for an after-school program.
Flooded with hope
Before arriving in Mingo County, our team stumbled upon news coverage describing the toll of drug abuse on many people living in the area. This became even more clear when the people we met testified to the personal impact of living in a drug-saturated environment. The hardships of man-made drugs paired with the unforgiving floods of the land tore at my heart because of how hard it must be to live in comfort and safety in Mingo County. And yet, love just poured out of each person we met. They still praised and thanked God. Marlene—the director of Able Families who was once a child herself in the after-school program—could have left, but instead she felt called to stay and faithfully work as the hands and feet of Christ in the community.
Powerful prayers
I have never felt closer to the Lord than when I walked into the life of a sweet 80-year-old lady named Ruby. She had been living in a trailer house where half the floor had deteriorated and fallen through, exposing her to the outside. Sweet Ruby was so content and grateful despite the conditions she was living in. While we made repairs to her trailer house, I thanked the Lord for Ruby and asked him to give her a safe and comfortable place to live. About halfway through the week, Marlene pulled me aside and told me that some voluntary organizations and World Renew were working together to get Ruby a new house. This good news brought chills to my body and tears to my eyes. Our God is so good.
Lindale, Texas
Calvary Commission
by Lily Anderson '22
Serving alongside Calvary Commission, Northwestern students assisted with various work projects around Calvary’s campus, served food, worshipped at a homeless ministry in downtown Tyler, Texas, and led a worship service at Coffield Prison. The team also worked with Syndeo Ministries, a nonprofit organization that ministers to women who are incarcerated or transitioning out of prison.
Covered in grace
This SSP helped our team break down the false perception that people in prison or on the streets made the mistakes that put them there, so they deserve the punishment they receive. At the end of the day, we are all sinners, and that sin is equal in God’s eyes. Not one of us is more “deserving” of God’s grace and forgiveness than the next. In Lindale, we encountered people who woke up every morning overwhelmingly thankful for the ways Jesus has changed them and pulled them out of the life they once lived. The students at Calvary Commission were unashamed about sharing their stories with others; we should all be inspired to do the same.
Transformed by hope
We heard so many testimonies from men and women who were incarcerated, and we were able to see how Jesus has transformed their lives. No one is too far gone from God’s love. There is always hope, no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done. God uses each of us to fulfill his work in the world. It was an honor to serve these individuals and show them the love they’d been denied for so long. Jesus was the greatest servant of all; he laid down his life for us. We need to be serving others with that same mindset.