Students Expand Worldview Through Global Study Trips
Missouri Baptist University expanded their worldview outside of St. Louis through global study trips offered during the spring and summer breaks to the Netherlands, Ghana and Israel.
Eight MBU students spent spring break in the Netherlands for a travel study trip led by Stephanie Kontrim-Baumann, assistant professor of marketing and business administration, from March 11–17. The travel study trip included earned course credits for Business in a Global Environment. Throughout the weeklong trip, students immersed themselves in the culture to garner knowledge through events such as a bike ride with the Cyclists’ Union of Amsterdam.
Upon the spring semester’s end, Dr. Amy Brinkley, assistant professor and graduate program director of higher education leadership, sought to give students a taste of life in Ghana from May 17–27.
“MBU coming alongside me in my work with Ghana is a rare opportunity and a blessing,” Brinkley said. “This summer, I brought nine MBU students to my second home — Ghana — with me to meet my family. Now, these students have more than memories and global studies experience. They feel like they are a part of my Ghana family, too.”
Students helped with the First Step Academy, which was co-founded by Brinkley in 2015.
This was the first time MBU has sponsored a trip to Africa.
In June, Dr. Curtis McClain, professor of Bible and director of Christian studies, led a team of MBU students to journey through the historical Biblical sites of Israel. For 10 days, they learned their way through locations such as Nazareth, Jerusalem and Mt. Olive as MBU students worked with First Step Academy while in Ghana. The academy was founded by Dr. Amy Brinkley, MBU assistant professor and graduate program director of higher education leadership. McClain helped guide them in their knowledge of the Bible and the current state of Israel.
Several students were able to participate in these global adventures as recipients of the Rosalie Frillman Memorial Scholarship. Throughout their lives, Mr. and Mrs. Frillman traveled frequently and established this MBU scholarship in order to provide resources to enrich students’ education through international study and travel opportunities.
“The generosity of Mr. Frillman’s life has become a legacy that will benefit Christian higher education for years to come,” said MBU President Dr. Keith Ross. ■
Read this featured story in MBU Magazine | Summer 2018
Learn more about our travel study programs at mobap.edu.
