Nelson University Hosts Missions Connection Week 2026
Nancy Lane, Content Strategist
Nelson University
For Immediate Release
WAXAHACHIE, Texas — February 12, 2026 — Each year, Nelson University welcomes missionary guests to campus for its annual Missions Connection Week. This time is specifically designed to help students consider how their studies, gifts, and calling connect to God’s work around the world. This year, the university welcomed 25 missionaries worldwide.
Planned and led by the Student Missions Association in partnership with the Missions Department, Missions Connection Week continues to be one of the most meaningful rhythms of the academic year. Over the course of three days, students engaged with missionaries serving across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe and Eurasia through Assemblies of God World Missions. Additional ministry partners included Native American Missions, Hope Dallas, Convoy of Hope, and Assemblies of God U.S. Missions.
Dr. Rennae de Freitas, Director of Missions at Nelson University, shared the heart behind the week.
“This week is all about students considering how they are called to God’s mission. Everyone has a role to play, whether that is going overseas, serving in their community, or supporting missionaries through prayer and giving. We are creating the space for them to lean in and listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to them about that role.”
Several visiting missionaries are Nelson alumni, including two who previously served as presidents of the Student Missions Association. Among them were Jordan and Michelle Wright, who graduated in 2014 and now serve internationally.
“We loved participating in Missions Connection Week,” they shared. “As alumni who were equipped for missions at Nelson, it has been a joy to come back and invest in the next generation. We are who we are today thanks to Nelson, and it has been great to give back in a small way.”
The week began with Culture Fest, where students, faculty, and missionary guests shared cuisine from around the world. The winning dish was prepared by the Doresetts and featured Chinese cuisine. Later in the week, International Dinners were hosted across campus, creating smaller, more personal settings for meaningful conversation and prayer. Students visited missionary booths, played a bingo style connection card game, and gathered stories and prayer requests from those serving globally. One Eurasia missionary brought a distinctive alpaca wool hat from Central Russia, which quickly became a campus favorite as students posed for photos and learned about ministry in that region.
Chapel services anchored the week in worship and reflection. JR Rodriguez, Intercultural Ministries Director for Assemblies of God U.S. Missions, and Doris Eckhert of Asia’s Little Ones challenged students to consider obedience and faithfulness in whatever role God may call them to. An optional chapel gathering created a sacred space without the rush of classes. Many described it as one of the most powerful moments of the week.
Missionaries also visited classrooms throughout campus, sharing personal testimonies and practical insight into cross cultural ministry. These conversations often extended beyond class time into prayer and pastoral care.
For some students, the week offered encouragement in the midst of wrestling with calling, family responsibilities, and future plans. For others, it opened their eyes to new possibilities of service. For all, it served as a reminder that missions is not a separate track but a way of living out faith in every vocation.
At Nelson University, Missions Connection Week is an invitation to listen, to respond, and to participate in God’s redemptive work across the globe.
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.