Carson-Newman University students go on mission

College students from Carson-Newman University recently attended a mission trip to Denver and gained a "life-changing" experience. (Photo by Yan Krukau from Pexels)

College students from Carson-Newman University recently attended a mission trip to Denver and gained said they had a "life-changing" experience.

In addition to working with homeless and refugee communities, the group received training on alleviating poverty from missionaries sent by the North American Mission Board's GenSend program.

'Life-changing' Experience

According to The Baptist Paper, Keaton Hubbs, a senior at Carson-Newman University, gives an account of a recent mission trip that she took to Denver with six other Carson-Newman University students.

Even though it was not Hubbs' first journey to the "Mile High City," the mission did not have any less of an impression. It would be her third time collaborating with GenSend in Denver, a city with a special place in her heart.

Since the trip occurred near the holiday, bringing happiness to others was at the top of the 'to-do list' of the Carson-Newman group.

They collaborated with the Place Bridge Academy, a magnet school for displaced children from over 40 countries who speak around 35 languages.

Although GenSend previously had a history of cooperating with the school, it was the first time a student team was permitted to meet with children and faculty members.

In addition to having lunch with kids during the week, Hubbs stated that entertaining activities gave opportunities for more meaningful connections.

She mentioned that they handed cookies to the students, desserts to the staff, and thank you cards.

Every child received a present for Christmas from them, which was made possible by a toy drive that takes place once a year and has been running for the past two years.

It was a lot to take in to get to know the kids and find out about some of the struggles they were going through.

Hubbs added that those kids have gone through more in their lives than she will probably ever go through in hers.

She also noted that Denver is the third loneliest city in the United States, according to the statistics. And many young people migrate there to figure out who they are and what they want to accomplish with the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, many folks leave Denver feeling even more isolated than before they arrived.

Also, the team led a prayer walk along Colfax Avenue in Denver, interacting with the homeless and taking the time to talk and pray with them.

Hubbs mentioned that it was just another meaningful experience she gained from volunteering during her undergraduate career. In March, she intends to return to Denver to go on with the job they started there.

Chris Milligan, who serves as an administrative assistant for Carson-campus Newman's ministry, was one of the people who assisted in the trip's coordination. He remarked that the experience was a blessing.

Carson-Newman University

Based on its website, Carson-Newman University is a Christian liberal arts college in East Tennessee. It is often regarded as among the region's educational institutions that offer the most bang for the buck.

Students there are encouraged to develop their religion and investigate the possibility that they have a special mission.

They are committed to serving their community and those in other parts of the world, following the example that Jesus set.