Send Me

Today, a multicultural group of students started a new journey at Newbold College of Higher Education as they joined the One Year in Mission and Service (OYIMS) program.

The enthusiasm was palpable as the students shared their reasons for joining OYIMS and how God led them to enroll in the program. Mia, from Estonia, heard about the program through a providential coincidence: a conversation with a friend that convinced her to move to Bracknell and start a new chapter of her life. 

Victoria, from Ireland, was finishing her nursing degree when she heard the news. “Mission was always in my heart; this is why I studied nursing in the first place.” Therefore, she took the leap and enrolled in the program to “grow in [her] walk with God and develop skills and confidence to share the Word and create community.”

Victoria invited her friend Mande, also from Ireland, who wanted to change directions in her life and “learn how to share the gospel”. Something similar happened to Ethan, from Birmingham, who, after hearing about OYIMS, could not keep it to himself and invited Douglas to join. Even Linnea, who joined via video call from Sweden, could not stop smiling. The students were bubbling with excitement because they were embarking on an adventure of faith and mission!

“OYIMS is a program designed to inspire and equip young people to become missionaries,” said Dejan Stojković, Youth Ministries director at the Trans-European Division (TED). Students enrolled in the program study theory of mission at Newbold for three months before heading to the mission fields to apply what they learned. “They can serve in Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, or Albania, supporting ADRA projects, and anywhere else in the world through the Adventist Volunteer Services.”

TED made available ten scholarships to support students (ages 11–30) from across the division who enroll in this program. The scholarships cover the total cost of the program, inclusive of tuition and accommodation on campus. 

“There is still time to apply,” said Stojković, urging current and prospective students to “accept the challenge to step out of your comfort zone and take the opportunity to make lifelong friendships.”

This article was originally published on the Trans-European Division’s news site