24 January 2022 |Bracknell, UK [Dejan Stojković with Vanesa Pizzuto]
Today a multicultural group of students started a new journey at Newbold College of Higher Education as they joined the One Year in Mission and Service (OYIMS) programme.
The enthusiasm was palpable as the students shared their reasons for joining OYIMS and how God led them to enrol in the programme. Mia, from Estonia, heard about the programme through a providential coincidence, a conversation with a friend that convinced her to move to Bracknell and start a new chapter of her life. Victoria, from Ireland, was finishing her nursing degree when she heard the news, “Mission was always in my heart, this is why I studied nursing in the first place.” So, she took the leap and enrolled in the programme to “grow in my walk with God and develop skills and confidence to share the Word and create community.”
Victoria invited her friend Mande, also from Ireland, who wanted to change directions in her life and “learn how to share the Gospel”. Something similar happened to Ethan, from Birmingham, who after hearing about OYIMS could not keep it to himself and invited Douglas to join. Even Linnea, who joined via videocall from Sweden, could not stop smiling. The students were bubbling with excitement because they were embarking on an adventure of faith and mission!
“OYIMS is a programme designed to inspire and equip young people to became missionaries,” said Dejan Stojković, Youth Ministries director at the Trans-European Division (TED). Students enrolled in the programme study theory of mission at Newbold for three months, before heading to the mission fields to apply what they learnt. “They can serve in Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia or Albania, supporting ADRA projects, and anywhere else in the world through the Adventist Volunteer Service.”
The TED made available 10 scholarships to support students (aged 18-30) from across the division to enrol in this programme. The scholarships cover the total cost of the programme, inclusive of tuition and accommodation on campus. “There is still time to apply,” said Stojković, urging current and prospective students to “accept the challenge to step out of your comfort zone and take the opportunity to make lifelong friendships.”
