In accordance with Matthew 28:19-20, California Baptist University is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission by providing students, faculty, and staff with opportunities to expand their global vision and gain hands-on ministry experience in a cross-cultural setting. It is through the International Service Projects that CBU strives to accomplish this goal.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
-Matthew 28:19-20, NASB
What is ISP?
International Service Projects, or ISP, is the CBU-based program through which students can serve overseas for 3 weeks during the summer. An ISP team is generally made up of 8-10 students and is lead by a CBU faculty or staff member. Since being established in 1997, ISP teams have served in more than 40 countries on 6 continents. While overseas, the teams participate in a variety of ministries that may include music, drama, sports, ethnography, children's ministry, and teaching English.
ISP team members must:
Currently be enrolled as a student at California Baptist University.
Have a personal, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Be active in a local church.
Desire to expand his/her global vision.
How to Apply
The application process takes place during the fall semester. Students are selected and placed on teams based upon their qualifications and individual giftedness. The application process includes an online application form, two references, and an interview with the ISP selection committee. The ISP selection committee is responsible for final decisions and team placement. Students are notified of their acceptance or denial in writing before the end of the fall semester.
Commitment
It's a lot more than just the three-week trip. During the spring semester, students can count on spending five to seven hours a week preparing for their experience. This time will be spent in team training meetings, personal Bible study, fundraising activities, and community service. Students who are unable to fulfill the training requirements will be removed from the team.
"The most significant part of my trip was being forever transformed. I learned things--good and bad about myself that I couldn't have learned anywhere else. I was able to read Scripture and see it lived out on a daily basis, and I learned to love a people who are so different than us who just don't know of Jesus yet."
-Kinsley Kuhn, South Asia 2006
Costs
Each student is responsible for raising $3,300 for a three-week, overseas trip. This money is used to cover ISP operational costs, which includes all food, lodging, and transportation for the trip. Students raise money through personal letter writing to family, friends, and churches. Team members who fail to raise the full amount will be required to pay the remaining balance from their own resources before departure.
"The most significant part of my trip was connecting with people who live on the other side of the world and being an eye-witness to what God was doing there."
-Brad Twitty, Rwanda 2006
Contact Mobilization Staff: click here
Frequently Asked Questions: click here
United States Projects: click here
ISP Team Updates: click here
Team Previews: click here