Missions
As the Great Commission University CUI is dedicated to providing a wide variety of mission and service experiences for students to participate in. There is a trip offering for every level of student, from those who don’t have passports, but would like to participate in a domestic mission experience, to those who have passports, who would like to participate in something that is not a high commitment, to trip opportunities for those who’d like to experience something longer in length whether they have had previous experience or not. There is also a variety of ways in which students can participate whether that is swinging a hammer to build a house for a needy family, to playing simple games with kids, engaging in health screenings, to teaching and sharing Bible stories with children.
Check out the various opportunities and dates below. For more information regarding the mission program or for specific information on a particular trip please contact:
Rev. Jonathan Ruehs, Associate Pastor, Outreach
E-mail: Jonathan.ruehs@cui.edu
Office #: (949) 214-3114
Important Note:
If you are looking to take a trip that is at least a week in length or longer, you will need to sign-up and take THL 395 – “Preparing for Mission and Service.” The class is a hybrid one unit class (two face-to-face sessions and the rest are online) that helps to better prepare students for a longer mission experience. You must have a current passport to apply for a trip.
Fall Navajo, New Mexico Mission Trip
Dates: October 11-15
Application Deadline: September 6, 2017
Trip Cost: $50
Leader: Jonathan Ruehs
Number of Possible Participants: 9
Mission Org: Lutheran Indian Ministry / Leader: Rev. Tim Norton
Summary of Service: We will be working with Rev. Tim Norton’s mission church where we will get the chance to learn more about Navajo culture, challenges to gospel proclamation, spend time playing with neighborhood kids, host a Saturday morning mini-Vacation Bible School program, build relationships with the members of the community, and participate in Sunday morning worship.
Apply Now
Fall Guatemala Mission Trip
Dates: Nov. 17-25
Application Deadline: September 13, 2017
Trip Cost: $1,800
Leaders: Scott & Julie Stiegemeyer and Kayleigh Belvery (Bethany Lutheran Church –
Long Beach)
Number of Possible Participants: 15
Mission Org: Central American Lutheran Mission Society / Leader: Charles Cohen
Summary of Service: CUI has a mission partnership with CALMS where we work alongside and build relationships with the village of El Progresso in eastern Guatemala. There are three trips a year, and the Thanksgiving trip focuses primarily on working with children in the village by leading a week long morning Vacation Bible School program. Female mission participants will also have the chance to build relationships with the women of the village in the afternoons through a women’s ministry experience. The trip may also include a building project.
Apply Now
Spring Mexico Mission Trip
Dates: January 27-28 (Saturday-Sunday)
Application Deadline: December 6, 2017
Trip Cost: $30
Leaders: Cliff Pawley
Number of Possible Participants: 9
Mission Org:Lutheran Border Concerns Ministry / Leader: Rev. Ramon Contreras
Summary of Service: The main focus of this trip will be to build a simple 10x10 house for a needy family in Tijuana. Trip participants will also get the chance to experience local culture, and participate in a Sunday morning worship service.
Apply Now
Spring Break Soccer Guatemala Mission Trip
Dates: Mar. 2-10
Application Deadline: December 6, 2017
Trip Cost: $1,800
Leaders: Chris Gould, Erik Kirsch, and Jonathan Ruehs
Number of Possible Participants: 23
Mission Org: Central American Lutheran Mission Society / Leader: Charles Cohen
Summary of Service: During our Spring break trip to Guatemala we typically run an afternoon sports camp for the kids in El Progresso. This year the trip will be a trip for the men’s soccer team. The team will be involved in running an after-school soccer camp for the kids of the village, as well as have the opportunity to teach soccer skills during morning P.E. classes for the kids who are in Elementary school through Middle School.
Apply Now
May Guatemala Mission Trip
Dates: May 15-23
Application Deadline: December 6, 2017
Trip Cost: $1,800
Leaders: Tim & Debbie Preuss, Nursing faculty, and Christ College faculty
Number of Possible Participants: 15
Mission Org: Central American Lutheran Mission Society / Leader: Charles Cohen
Summary of Service: The May trip will focus on health screenings and health education for the village through the nursing student involvement. At the same time a secondary part of the team will host a mini-Vacation Bible School program for the children of the village. There will also be a chance for some of the participants to participate in a church leader training for the leaders of the two churches in El Progresso.
Apply Now
Summer Japan Mission Trip
Dates: May 31 - June 9
Application Deadline: December 6, 2017
Trip Cost: TBD
Leaders: AIEP Faculty
Proposed Participants: 2 (Education students)
Mission Org: Urawa Lutheran School / Leader: Michiko Ishii
Summary of Service: The goal is for two education students and one AIEP faculty member to experience a Lutheran education setting in Japan with the opportunity to do some English teaching, lead a chapel, and spend time developing relationships with students who will be participating in the CUI summer study experience in July.
Apply Now
Summer Hungary Mission Trip
Dates: June 20 – July 11
Application Deadline: November 3, 2017
Trip Cost: $3,100
Leaders: Quinton & Summer Anderson and Kristen Howe (Crean Lutheran High School)
Number of Possible Participants: 15
Mission Org: Sopron Evangelical School/LCMS/Onsite Leader: Ildi
Summary of Service: The mission trip to Hungary will involve being engaged with a two-week intensive English camp. One week will focus on working with middle school students, and the second week with focus on high school students. The trip will contain a Vacation Bible School focus in the midst of teaching English.
Apply Now