FHU Missions Emphasis Days Encourage Students to Expand Their Global Horizons

With an aim to introduce the student body to the concept of missions and develop interest and involvement in mission work, Freed-Hardeman University once again celebrated its annual Missions Emphasis Days, September 4-5. During these two days, students had multiple opportunities to gain knowledge and hear practical advice from guest speakers who have years of real-world experience in the field of missions.

“After two full days of emphasizing the Lord’s global mission, Freed-Hardeman’s student body has not only been informed but greater interest and involvement have been generated and life goals revised,” Dr. Kevin Moore, FHU’s director of missions studies, said. “While traditional concepts of overseas and domestic missions were highlighted, students also learned about utilizing modern technology to reach an even greater number of souls around the world. Our prayer is that God’s missionary force increases and the proverbial fire continues to burn until next year’s Missions Emphasis Days.”

Marty Johnson speaks to student body during chapel

This year’s visiting missionaries were John Jones (New Zealand), Jamie Richardson (Brazil), Marty and Julie Johnson (Indonesia and media outreach), Gary Reaves (Peru and Hispanic ministry) and a virtual interview with recent FHU graduates Lydia Todd and Kayley Wadlington (London, England). Students had opportunities to hear from speakers who presented for various Bible classes in Ayers Auditorium. Some visitors also spoke in chapel sessions or in mid-week assemblies of local congregations.

Jamie Richardson spoke to audiences from a wealth of missionary experience, having worked in the country of Brazil for over 40 years. Brazil is a country with 220 million souls (“I try not to call them people, but souls,” he said), and it is unevenly divided between the wealthy and the poor. During his time there, some of Richardson’s work involved partnerships with the Manna Home for Abused Children as well as a Future Preacher’s Training Camp.

He reminded students of the supreme importance of Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Gary Reaves shares of his experiences in Cusco, Peru

Having previously served as foreign missionaries in Indonesia for nearly 10 years, Marty and Julie Johnson now consider themselves digital missionaries with their two YouTube channels: “Martin Johnson – Off Grid Living” and “The Down to Earth Christian.” While today’s social media landscape may present occasional dangers and negativity, the Johnsons choose to view the digital landscape as full of opportunities to freely spread truth and positivity.

“YouTube reaches more 18-49 year olds in an average week than all cable TV networks combined,” Marty Johnson informed his audience of college students. “You can have access to 31.5% – almost one-third of the world’s population – for free.”

For Lydia Todd and Kayley Wadlington, both 2023 graduates of FHU, the idea to pursue mission work was sparked in Dr. Matt Cook’s Bible Basis of Missions class. Following a class project that required students to organize and plan their “dream mission,” Todd was inspired to make this dream a reality. She first selected London, England, as an ideal field for her own age, skills and abilities, and she then invited her friend and roommate Wadlington to join her in this work.

Throughout their year in London, the two aimed to practice “friendship evangelism” by hosting secular events for girls their age – game nights, paint parties, calligraphy classes, etc. – allowing them to meet people, develop relationships and eventually turn those into Bible studies. For other new friends, they hosted free English classes using the Bible as text. They also worked with other Christian women at congregations in and around London, helping to equip and motivate them to feel confident in their ability to share the Gospel themselves.

Wadlington’s primary advice to students was that mission work is within the reach of anyone who has the drive to go. “It was not my plan and not what I studied. I want to tell anyone who is not a Bible or missions major that this in no way makes you unprepared or unqualified to do something like this. If you are a Christian, then you know everything you need to know in order to evangelize,” she shared. “God has taught me that He can do amazing things if I just step out of my comfort zone and try. He turned my ‘yes’ into so much more than I had ever planned for myself.”

Lydia Todd and Kayley Wadlington are virtually interviewed about their work in London, England

Outside of Ayers Auditorium, several booths and tables displayed a variety of other mission works, both stateside and abroad, further exposing students to the great number of opportunities for them to become involved. Both visitors and students alike left encouraged by the dedicated work that is already in progress and inspired to continue the positive momentum themselves.

Junior Blake Brown left Gary Reaves’ presentation thinking about his own life’s mission. “I was inspired during Mission Emphasis Days to pursue things of God, even when my heart might not be in the right spot at that exact moment,” he said. “The speaker wasn’t always concerned primarily with helping people when he first started mission work. Eventually, though, God helped transform his life and heart, and now I believe I can get to this point too.”