Spring break missions are experiencing a change in management this year.
For the last five years, spring break missions have been directed by the president’s office by Nate Copeland. This year, however, the mission trips are being handed over to Andrew Baker, director of the Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry, and Brandon Tittle, assistant director, in the College of Bible.
Working as assistant to the president, assistant professor of business and the director of the College of Business Administration Alumni Networking Center, Copeland has a full schedule.
“I needed to take something off my plate and spring break missions really fit,” Copeland said. “It also fits really well with what [Baker and Tittle] are trying to do with leadership in ministry in the College of Bible.”
This transition has been discussed for about a year and a half, and the work that Baker and Tittle do with the leadership in ministry made them a natural fit for spring break missions. Taking over the spring break missions gives them a chance to further develop student leaders.
The change of management comes with a few other changes. Tittle said leadership in ministry majors will be able to do a spring break campaign for credit. Students who lead a trip will be able to count the mission trip as their Bible class for the spring semester (although just participating in a trip will get the leadership in ministry students some sort of field work credit).
Baker and Tittle are also trying to get more faculty and staff going on the trips. Tittle said trips will still be student-led, but the faculty will be there as a great resource.
“We thought it would be good to get [the faculty] more involved in what the students are doing,” Tittle said.
They are also looking into the possibility of opening the trips up for alumni. Tittle said a lot of Harding alumni were a part of spring break missions during their time at Harding University and would love to come back and share that experience with students.
Baker and Tittle said they are working on getting churches involved at an earlier stage in the planning process as well.
“We think [getting churches involved] would be very helpful and beneficial in creating some long-term partnerships with the churches and organizations so that it will be more than just a one-week high point,” Tittle said.
The destinations for the trips will be the same as they were in previous years. Tittle said they are looking at four or five new destinations, but nothing is set in stone and these new locations may not work out.
Sometime in October, after destination and leader decisions are finalized, the trips will be heavily advertised and students will be further encouraged to sign up and participate in the spring break missions that will take place Spring 2012.
