Summer Kinder works in the Admissions Department at BBC. She attended Bowling Green State University and Ohio State University before arriving at BBC in 2001. Summer joined BBC  Admissions in 2008 and has loved every minute of it! She enjoys being involved in student ministries with both teens and elementary-age students. She recently returned from a missions trip to Kenya, and I wanted her to share a few thoughts on her trip.

DN: Summer, tell us when and why you traveled to Africa.

SK: December 26-January 3rd – I went with my local church, Parker Hill Community Church (www.parkerhill.org). It’s only 1.8 miles from BBC’s campus. We partnered with the 410 Bridge (www.410bridge.org) – an organization that partners American churches with churches in Kenya.

DN: What were some of your goals? Did you accomplish them?

SK: Our primary goals were to build relationships and help with school projects. We worked with Kenyans to make sidewalks and level the floor in the elementary room, but it was not a very “work-oriented” trip. We did whatever they needed and spent time building relationships with the Kenyans during the times that would normally seem “unproductive.”

DN: How did BBC prepare you for a trip like this?

SK: BBC helped me develop a heart of compassion for those in need and for ministry in general. Education courses helped me interact with kids better. Courses like Defending the Faith and Proclaiming the Gospel helped me interact with Kenyan believers and discuss our faith more intelligently.

DN: Are you going back to Kenya?

SK: If the Lord allows, YES!

Baptist Bible College encourages students to take short-term missions trips. We provide short-term trips for students during the summer, and we also encourage students to work with their local churches’ short-term trips as well. Learn more about our Missions program here: http://www.bbc.edu/college/academics/program_missions.asp.