Riverside, Calif. (June 2, 2016) – California Baptist University this week sent out its third wave of volunteer teams to serve for the 2016 International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service programs. Eight teams departed from CBU June 1-2 en route to service projects in Spain, Germany, Canada, Japan, Central Asia and Thailand.

Aura Opris, mobilization coordinator in the Office of Spiritual Life, said these service projects are among many CBU activities designed to help students form a global mindset for service.

Before departing, teams gathered with their families and friends to pray at the Kugel, a granite globe that rotates on a base inscribed with the scripture from Matthew 28:19-20, symbolizing CBU's commitment to the Great Commission.

The team leaders prayed that God would bless their service, help participants work well together, build relationships with those they serve and be a support to the workers they will be helping.

The teams departing this week join nine others already serving in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Austria, Spain, Canada and the United Kingdom. This summer, more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams will serve in 17 countries. 2016 marks the 20th year for CBU's mobilization efforts.