Riverside, Calif. (June 17, 2015) -- California Baptist University is sending its fourth and final wave of volunteer teams to fields of service around the world June 11 through 22. The eight groups, which are part of the International Service Projects and U.S. Projects, are serving in Japan, East Asia, Spain, Thailand, Virginia, New York and Baltimore.

Other teams performed service projects in areas such as Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Poland, Spain, Thailand and United Kingdom. This year, more than 370 participants served on 42 teams to 16 countries. The teams this year also included the 4,000^th participant in the 19 years of ISP/USP/SOS. Last year the Office of Mobilization commemorated sending out its 400^th team.

Before leaving campus, each team gathers to pray at the Kugel, a granite globe that floats on a base inscribed with the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).

The theme for ISP/USP/SOS this year is Resolve. It has been exciting and challenging to see the way the theme has played out in the teams, said Aura Opris, mobilization coordinator for the Office of Spiritual Life.

"We're resolved to share the gospel regardless of the circumstances," she said. "I'm going to ask that you pray that this experience not necessarily be an easy experience for our students, but that God would really challenge them in the work that they're doing there."