Nancy Lane, Content Strategist
Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU)
For Immediate Release
Waxahachie, TX – February 8, 2024 – Last month, the Southwestern Missions Association at Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) organized the much-anticipated Missions Connection Week. Approximately 50 Missionaries, past and present, from all around the world visited the campus to spend the week sharing their lives with SAGU students. “As stewards of God’s mission,” says SAGU Director of World Missions, Rennae de Freitas, “it’s our desire to cultivate within every student an understanding of their integral connection to His purpose.
The week began with “Tea and Talk” a special event for women, sponsored by Women of Ministry organization on campus. The featured speaker, from Protect Me Project, shed light on the crucial anti-trafficking prevention work undertaken by the organization. The session served not only to educate but also to inspire the attendees to consider their roles in such a vital mission.
Throughout the week, missionaries were given the unique opportunity to share their experiences in various classes. Rev. Seth Henderson from Hope Dallas, spoke in Wednesday’s chapel about missional living. Thursday’s chapel was a unique event that many loved. Roughly fifty circles of nine seats were created throughout the Shaeffer auditorium with a missions representative talking about missions and telling stories and testimonies within each circle. These connections provided invaluable insights into the challenges and rewards of mission work, fostering a deeper understanding among the student body.
Adding a deliciously multicultural flavor to the week, Culture Fest emerged as another exciting highlight. Missionaries and the SAGU faculty and staff collaborated to prepare small samples of food from around the world, creating a global feast for the students.
In addition to these structured events, missionaries took the initiative to connect with students on a personal level. Hosting international dinners, they provided students with a more intimate setting to learn about various cultures and share in the experiences of those engaged in mission work around the world.
As the week came to a close, students emerged with a renewed sense of purpose, inspired by the stories and experiences shared by missionaries. SAGU believes that students, whether pursuing vocational ministry or marketplace careers, should be provided with opportunities to align their degrees, talents, and passions with joining God’s mission. Recognizing the effectiveness of one-on-one interactions in engaging students with missions and service, the week aimed to create an atmosphere where individuals could reflect on the intricate connection between their lives and God’s mission.
“Whether it’s serving as cross-cultural missionaries, translating the Bible for those yearning for its message, providing crucial financial support, or faithfully interceding, each of us plays a vital role,” de Freitas says. “Missions Connection week served to prompt every student to reflect: ‘How am I called to God’s mission?’ It is my prayer that this question guides us all to embrace our connection to God’s mission.”
About SAGU:
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927 and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
