Nelson Students Carry Light to the Nations Through Global Mission Trips
Nancy Lane, Content Strategist
Nelson University
For Immediate Release
WAXAHACHIE, Texas — October 23, 2025 — Nelson University students are living out the Great Commission by spreading God’s love and hope across continents through TWELVE trips and other global service opportunities.
From the bustling streets of Budapest to the villages of the Ivory Coast, students are stepping outside their comfort zones to serve, learn, and grow. These experiences are the moments that allow faith in action and shape hearts that deepen faith.
“Each trip represents a living expression of Nelson’s mission to Prepare Students and Connect Them to Their Calling,” said Dr. Rennae de Freitas. “Our students return changed. They come back more courageous and committed to following Christ wherever He leads.”
Several highlights from this year’s mission trips showcased how Nelson students lived out their faith across the globe. In the Ivory Coast, two Nelson teams, SMA TWELVE and AIC, partnered with local churches to share the Gospel through children’s programs, construction projects, and evangelism efforts. Closer to home, a team in Dearborn, Michigan connected with diverse communities through relationship-building and community outreach. They served alongside local ministry partners in coffee shop conversations and neighborhood initiatives that reflected Christ’s love in everyday ways. In Grenoble, France, students engaged with university students and families through creative ministry, service projects, and community events, strengthening partnerships that extended Nelson’s mission into new global contexts. A team serving in Budapest, Hungary shared the Gospel through coffee shop ministry, single moms’ outreach, and children’s programs. Another TWELVE trip team journeyed to Southern Asia, partnering with local ministries to bring hope, education, and encouragement to communities in need. Expanding these horizons even further, Professor Lee Guidry pioneered a faculty-led international service trip that gave students hands-on experience in cross-cultural ministry and global leadership.
These mission experiences are strengthened through partnerships with Nelson alumni serving as full-time Assemblies of God missionaries. Students worked alongside graduates like Aaron and Shannon Morgan in Budapest and Brent and Shelly Teague in the Ivory Coast. These partnerships reflect Nelson’s commitment to long-term relationships, not just one-time visits. Students return to the same communities year after year, building trust and deepening impact. Many alumni who once participated in mission trips as students have now returned to these same countries as career missionaries, embodying Nelson’s mobilization vision of preparing students for lifelong Kingdom service.
From West Africa to Western Europe and beyond, Nelson students are carrying light to the nations, one act of service at a time.
Learn More:
Visit https://www.nelsonmissions.com/ to explore upcoming Mission 12 opportunities and see how you can support Nelson’s global outreach.
About Nelson University
Nelson University is a private Christian university located just 30 minutes south of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. Founded in 1927, the university offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degrees, both on campus and online. Committed to integrating faith and learning, Nelson prepares students to fulfill their God-given callings in a Spirit-empowered community. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or call 1-888-937-7248.