Mississippi College Banquet Honors Summer 2013 Missionaries

MC senior Hanna Finley of Tupelo on a 2012 summer mission trip.

Hanna Finley will teach English, lead Bible studies and build relationships while sharing the gospel with people in South Korea this summer.

A 21-year-old senior from Tupelo, Finley is among Mississippi College students embarking upon summer mission trips taking them across America and half-way around the world.

Serving overseas in the mission field is something that Finley wants to pursue after earning her MC degree in May and going to graduate school. “I am looking into more long term missions opportunities for the future to work with North Koreans,” she said. “God has without a doubt given me His heart for this unreached group of people.”

An accounting major, Finley is one of 14 undergraduates attending a Baptist Student Union summer missions banquet on the Clinton campus Friday evening. The dinner is an opportunity for faculty and staff to support and pray for student missionaries serving in North America or internationally.

The March 1 program begins 7 p.m. at Anderson Hall.

A graduate of Tupelo Christian Preparatory School, Finley made a similar journey to South Korea last summer.

An 18-year-old MC psychology major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jordan Berry is thrilled about her trip to Kissimmee near Disney World in Central Florida. She will serve a little over two months through Rock Ministries at a place called “Give Kids the World.”

It’s a resort for terminally ill children and their families. The families come to visit their kids and the visitors receiving donated free tickets to Disney World, Sea World and other attractions. Jordan and seven other interns from the South will serve the families, tackle cleaning duties and offer their prayers to benefit the resort village.

“I hope through this experience I cannot only further God’s kingdom through His children, but learn more about people as well as bless and be blessed by the kids,” Jordan said. “This is an answered prayer. I’m so excited to be joining this team.”

In future years, Berry wants to become a family counselor who serves their needs when a crisis occurs.

Tickets for the annual banquet cost $25. Funds will go towards Baptist Student Union goals for the MC summer missions. About 150 people are expected to attend Friday night’s program.

Heidi Cheatham, assistant director for the Baptist Student Union, says the dinner always offers an excellent chance for the Christian university’s student missionaries to be prayed for and encouraged by family and friends.

The mission trips often open the door to life-changing, unforgettable experiences. A trip last summer took MC student Lee McCarty to Slovenia in Central Europe to share his faith with youth in the Alps. In the Republic of Slovenia only 1 percent of the population knows Jesus Christ as their Lord.

For more information, contact the BSU’s Heidi Cheatham at 601.925.3398 or Brenda Holloway at 601.925.3238.