CBU volunteers to serve in 14 countries on 16 teams in 2022

Riverside, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2021) – Excitement was in the air at California Baptist University as Spiritual Life’s Mobilization hosted Team Reveal on Dec. 1. The event reveals which service team the students are assigned to next year.

In 2022, the International Service Project (ISP) program will send out 14 encounter teams, which serve for two to three weeks, and two immersion teams, which serve for eight weeks. Overall, approximately 150 participants will go to 14 countries.

2022 marks the 24th year of CBU’s signature global mobilization program. Teams have not been sent out the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event featured an information session followed by the team reveal during which students discovered where they would serve. Following the reveal, students met with their respective teams, and parents and families who attended the event received more information about the program.

“Team Reveal was super exciting,” said Elise Winward, a biomedical sciences and forensic chemistry junior. Her team is going to Southern Europe.

“The Mobilization team did an awesome job,” Winward said. “Breaking off to have our first meeting with our team was great and we really got to see the hearts of our leaders for the unreached and for these trips.”

Kris Smith, assistant director of Mobilization, views Team Reveal as a rewarding event for students who have prepped for ISP throughout the semester, which includes completing applications, interviewing and participating in a support-raising workshop. 

“For the students, meeting their leader and team members and finding out their placement is a much-anticipated event,” Smith said. “It is also important that students understand security before they share their exciting news with family and friends and begin the support-raising process.”

Kristie Wiseman, a biomedical sciences junior, is part of an encounter team for 2022. She said she is excited to go on an ISP trip to East Africa, especially after her ISP trip was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“I appreciate that I have another opportunity to go, and I am grateful that they are still trying to do all they can,” Wiseman said. “I like that they make it a whole event to find out where you are going on your ISP trip. It helps you get to know your team fast because you are all excited to get started.”

Josiah Norrie, a mechanical engineering junior, is part of an immersion team going to South Asia. He enjoyed seeing the teams form connections during the event.

“There seemed to be even more excitement than the last Team Reveal two years ago,” Norrie said. “I enjoyed getting to meet several new people and shared fun stories with them.”

Smith said the event is important because students can now form bonds with team members and begin preparing and raising support for their trips.

“The reveal is exciting, but I love walking around and seeing the teams meeting for the first time,” Smith said. “There is an incredible amount of work and prayer that goes into putting teams together, so to see them connecting is very exciting, knowing they are beginning an incredible journey of training and discovery that will culminate in serving cross-culturally next summer.”