Spire Spring 2018

Bluefield College students served on mission in Panama this spring. Long-term missionaries Jonathan and Amanda Brown helped prepare the students for the trip — just one of the many roles they played as missionaries-in-residence at BC this academic year.

Jonathan said he also met with students one-on-one to talk about missions, including several who met with him multiple times to discuss a potential call to the mission field, like BC junior Evan Abbey who attended the missions club meetings and met with Jonathan personally on four separate occasions. “They were so kind and open to having all of the students in their home and to be a part of their lives while they were here,” said Abbey about his experiences with the Browns. “Also, they were very invested in us and were always available when we needed them. They were completely honest with us. I went to them with a lot of questions, and I feel like I got an honest answer every single time.” Abbey added that the Browns did not shy away from discussing the most difficult aspects of missions. They spent a lot of time, he said, talking about the wonderful parts of work in the mission field, but they never neglected sharing the sacrifice and difficulties of it. “Mission work is something that is on the heart of many young (college-age) Christians,” said Abbey. “It’s a very difficult calling to work through by yourself. The missionaries-in-residence help the students work through their thoughts and feelings by pointing to the Bible and their own experiences.”

Dr. Clary noted the great benefit of students being able to spend personal time with a real missionary who has the ability to give first-hand evidence of the missionary life. The Missionary-in- Residence Program, he added, gives students a well-rounded viewpoint of missions in an international context. “My sincere desire is to continue to promote the Missionary-in- Residence Program and to see it thrive at Bluefield College,” said Dr. Clary. “My sense is that God is blessing Bluefield College as BC blesses missionaries.” On campus for nearly the entire academic year, the Browns also visited and spoke about missions at 12 different churches throughout the region. “We enjoyed our time back at Bluefield College so much,” said Jonathan, “and really look forward to another potential opportunity to come back and work with students some more.”

Story by BC student marketing associate Mikaela Hurst.

Christ-centered

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