Next Gen Ministerial Assistant Delaney Jones has been on her fair share of missions projects. Having previously traveled with Bellevue’s College team to Denver, she knows about the mix of excitement and challenges that comes with sharing her faith in a new city. Little did she realize just how much the missions project to Medford, Oregon, from October 11 to 18 would teach her.
Delaney hadn’t expected the feeling of familiarity that hit her as soon as she stepped onto Southern Oregon University’s campus. The college atmosphere there was similar to that of the University of Memphis, where she has been deeply involved in campus ministry with The Vue since her freshman year. She felt right at home.
Throughout the week, Delaney walked up to different students with the intention of striking up a Gospel conversations with them. To her surprise, a lot of students were just waiting to be asked about their beliefs.
“For some, they don’t know how to begin talk about their faith just because they have never been discipled on how to, but when they were asked, they opened right up,” Delaney said. “It felt like they wanted to know that you wanted to hear about their story.”
The trip to Oregon deepened Delaney’s understanding of what it means to share her faith. She realized the importance of being a light wherever you are—whether in Medford or Memphis. The week after the missions team returned from Oregon, Delaney watched four Memphis college students come to faith, and she has felt more inspired than ever to keep showing up, Monday after Monday, right where God has placed her.
“If your plan is to share the Gospel and you think you have to go all the way across the world to do that, then that is a wrong perspective of what the Lord calls us to do,” Delaney said. “Think of Paul in the Bible—he shared the Gospel wherever he was.”
From starting off as a college student attending The Vue to now getting to partner with incredible leaders from other churches, Delaney has seen the power of intentional ministry and the importance of simply being present. With each new connection she makes, Delaney is reminded of how living her faith with boldness and humility can transform lives and communities both near and far.
Join us tomorrow morning in the South Lobby for Missions Weekend to learn more about how you can be part of missions projects in 2025!
Go to bellevue.org/missions to find out more about opportunities to get involved and be a catalyst for spiritual awakening in Memphis and beyond!