Serving Snapshots

In this episode, Brayden Dirks, a Northwestern College student, shares his experience serving at The Jungle in Cowley, Oxford. From tea time with locals to conversations with recovering addicts, Brayden reflects on what it means to love others like Jesus—through presence, patience, and genuine relationship.

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Abby Noonan, a college student from Iowa, to talk about her unexpected journey to Oxford, England on a spring break service trip with One Collective. Abby shares how a simple reference form led her to an eye-opening experience in relational ministry, the power of cross-cultural community, and what it means to trust God with both the big and small moments of service.

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Travis Sweeney, a college student from Northwestern College, to talk about his recent spring break service trip to Oxford, UK. Travis shares how serving at The Jungle, a community center and art space, opened his eyes to a new way of doing ministry—one rooted in relationships, creativity, and quiet transformation. From art classes to men's prayer, hear how God moved through everyday moments and how Travis is carrying those lessons into his life back on campus.

In this episode, Brenna sits down with Molly Riggs, a university student who recently returned from a mission trip to Nicaragua. Molly shares how her team partnered with local organizations to support ongoing work—through manual labor, relationship-building, and spiritual reflection. She reflects on how the experience reshaped her understanding of missions, deepened her faith, and challenged her to trust in God's presence already at work.

In this episode, Avery Marstella shares his powerful experience serving in Ecuador—where a simple "yes" turned into a life-changing journey of faith, creativity, and community. From painting a mural alongside local leaders to preaching his very first sermon, Avery walks us through the highs, challenges, and holy moments that defined his week abroad. Hear how God used every part of the trip to deepen trust, spark transformation, and build lasting connections.

In this episode, Brenna Carson sits down with Dr. Charles Perabeau, Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry at Olivet Nazarene University, to explore the transformative power of short-term mission trips. Charles shares stories from his recent team’s experience in Ecuador with One Collective, reflects on the spiritual growth that comes through vulnerability and cross-cultural engagement, and offers heartfelt encouragement to anyone considering stepping out in faith. Whether you're a student, leader, or simply curious about missions, this conversation is a rich reminder of how God works through our willingness to go.

Miriam shares about leading a short-term mission trip to Cowley, England, where her team partnered with a local community center called The Jungle to support activities like story time, tea time, and art gym.

Reflections on spiritual growth—Miriam talks about how cross-cultural experiences have deepened her faith and helped her recognize joy and gratitude in everyday life.

Powerful encounters with individuals in recovery—She shares how connecting with men from a local rehab center inspired her through their testimonies of transformation and faith.

Lessons from leading two international trips—Miriam compares her experiences in Costa Rica and England, and discusses how different cultures reflect God’s image in unique ways.

Encouragement for others considering missions—She offers advice for those hesitant to step out of their comfort zone: go with a heart ready to listen, learn, and grow.

In this episode, Grace reflects on her summer as a community engagement intern in Santiago, Spain, where she worked with Apotheca on projects like assembling farmer's baskets, organizing events, and advertising artisanal products. She shares how the experience challenged her expectations, deepened her cross-cultural understanding, and revealed unexpected passions, including entrepreneurship. Grace's story highlights the value of stepping out of your comfort zone, cultivating enduring habits, and using your unique gifts to serve others.

Inconsistencies in service, financial instability, management difficulties, and burnout are all issues that can affect a group therapy practice. But what if the practice was built with not only the therapist in mind but also a mission to meet an unmet need in the community? That’s exactly why Lisa Savage started her group practice almost 20 years ago, now the country's largest Black-owned therapy practice. 

 Heather recently graduated from Azusa Pacific University and went on a trip to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. She went with a group of fellow students and partnered with a collective through her university's global engagement program. Heather had a new experience leading the trip and working with a new group of people. One of her favorite parts was seeing her team members come out of their shells and discover their passions. She also had a memorable moment visiting a local farm in Spain that reminded her of her own family's farm in America. The trip has had a significant impact on Heather's spiritual journey and she feels a calling for long-term mission work. She has a passion for cross-cultural ministry and is exploring where she feels most connected and invested. Heather's advice for future short-term team workers is to learn about the area they are going to, understand the culture, and practice the language.