Welcome to our blog! We're the Class of 2020 Covenant College Maclellan Scholars, and we're excited to share our journey with you. (On the homepage, scroll down for most recent posts.)
Each year in May, rising sophomore Maclellan Scholars are given the opportunity to take a trip abroad in order to pursue self-selected learning objectives. After several months of prayer and discussion, we decided to pursue studies related to Islam, immigration, and racism, especially in the context of the global refugee crisis.
To seek deeper understanding of these issues, we will be spending two days in Clarkston, GA, followed by ten days in Athens, Greece. We'll be traveling along with our college President and his family, and two professors. We’d like to ask for your prayers and support as we interact with these charged topics, especially in such a crucial time for the Church and for our nation.
Clarkston is home to refugees from over 50 countries, settled in the area by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees). Often called “the most diverse square mile in America,” Clarkston offers opportunities to understand the UNHCR refugee resettlement process and see how American churches and NGOs are involved with refugee communities. While there, we’ll have the opportunity to interview refugee resettlement workers from several parachurch agencies, as well as meet refugee families that have found a home in the United States.
Athens, Greece is a hotspot in the global refugee crisis. Greece is already home to tens of thousands of refugees, and as many as 100 per day continue arrive on the Aegean coast via boat, fleeing war, violence, and persecution in their home countries. While in Athens, we’ll be on the front lines of the crisis, studying how the country’s government and Christian communities have responded to this humanitarian emergency. By partnering with the First Greek Evangelical Church and the Athens Project, we’ll have the opportunity to interact with Christian social workers in Greece, Greek university students, and refugee families. We hope to gain deeper understanding of Islam (especially in a minority context), study the current refugee situation, and contextualize our faith in a region of the world that is vital to the history of the Church.
Learning about these issues is more important now than ever before. Christians in America must be prepared to answer new and difficult questions about race, refugees, and the Islamic faith. We must find poignant ways to engage a divided culture with the love of Christ. As our cohort of 14 Maclellan Scholars travels to Clarkston and Athens, we ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that we become better equipped to love our Muslim neighbors, that we learn to apply the Gospel in the context of refugees and immigrants, and most importantly, that we grow in our faith. Pray that Christ’s kingdom will become more visible on Earth, as his Church works to glorify him in all areas of life.
We immensely appreciate your support. Thank you for joining us on this adventure!
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| This is us! From left to right: Meredith Lee, Elena Hatch, Bethany Sikkink, Avery Drury, Lucy Green, Ian Banks, Madi McCullough, Suzannah Guthmann, Mary Grace Donaldson, Joey Bell, John Sadler, David Kraus, Josh Russell, and Will Payne |
Each year in May, rising sophomore Maclellan Scholars are given the opportunity to take a trip abroad in order to pursue self-selected learning objectives. After several months of prayer and discussion, we decided to pursue studies related to Islam, immigration, and racism, especially in the context of the global refugee crisis.
To seek deeper understanding of these issues, we will be spending two days in Clarkston, GA, followed by ten days in Athens, Greece. We'll be traveling along with our college President and his family, and two professors. We’d like to ask for your prayers and support as we interact with these charged topics, especially in such a crucial time for the Church and for our nation.
Clarkston is home to refugees from over 50 countries, settled in the area by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees). Often called “the most diverse square mile in America,” Clarkston offers opportunities to understand the UNHCR refugee resettlement process and see how American churches and NGOs are involved with refugee communities. While there, we’ll have the opportunity to interview refugee resettlement workers from several parachurch agencies, as well as meet refugee families that have found a home in the United States.
Athens, Greece is a hotspot in the global refugee crisis. Greece is already home to tens of thousands of refugees, and as many as 100 per day continue arrive on the Aegean coast via boat, fleeing war, violence, and persecution in their home countries. While in Athens, we’ll be on the front lines of the crisis, studying how the country’s government and Christian communities have responded to this humanitarian emergency. By partnering with the First Greek Evangelical Church and the Athens Project, we’ll have the opportunity to interact with Christian social workers in Greece, Greek university students, and refugee families. We hope to gain deeper understanding of Islam (especially in a minority context), study the current refugee situation, and contextualize our faith in a region of the world that is vital to the history of the Church.
Learning about these issues is more important now than ever before. Christians in America must be prepared to answer new and difficult questions about race, refugees, and the Islamic faith. We must find poignant ways to engage a divided culture with the love of Christ. As our cohort of 14 Maclellan Scholars travels to Clarkston and Athens, we ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that we become better equipped to love our Muslim neighbors, that we learn to apply the Gospel in the context of refugees and immigrants, and most importantly, that we grow in our faith. Pray that Christ’s kingdom will become more visible on Earth, as his Church works to glorify him in all areas of life.
We immensely appreciate your support. Thank you for joining us on this adventure!
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