CBU volunteers set to serve in 24 countries on 35 teams in 2019

Riverside, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2018) – Joyful anticipation filled the air as hundreds of students from California Baptist University packed Magnolia Church in Riverside for the ISP Team Reveal on Nov. 29.

The CBU Office of Spiritual Life held the event to announce which volunteer teams the students will serve on next summer. 2019 marks the 23rd year of CBU’s global mobilization efforts led by students, staff and faculty members. More than 300 students and staff comprising 35 International Service Projects (ISP) teams are scheduled to serve in 24 countries, including Lithuania and the Netherlands for the first time.

Katie Rasar, an undeclared sophomore, will be serving on her second ISP.  She served in Southeast Asia last summer and plans to go to Spain in 2019.

“I really loved the whole experience last year, but I wanted to experience a different part of the world, and I got Spain,” Rasar happily explained. “I want to grow in my faith honestly. I feel like in every trip you learn something new or God reveals himself in a new way and I just want to get to know Him more and get to know others as well.”

Jeff Lewis, director of Mobilization, told students the theme for 2019 ISP is “The Story,” with the theme verse from Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God.”

Lewis said his office’s mission is to reach all nations with the Gospel message.

ISP students will serve on four types of teams, depending on previous ISP experience and their time commitment. Encounter teams are open to first-time participants who will serve 10-14 days. Engagement teams are deployed for three weeks. Immersion teams serve for eight weeks and are available to returning ISP students. Launch, a new ISP team being offered in 2019, is geared for students who are interested in serving overseas long-term. Launch will be available to graduating seniors.