Missions Emphasis 2026
Trinity College of Jacksonville just wrapped up an energizing week of Missions Emphasis!
Converge representatives and special guests engaged with the student body on a daily basis in classes, in one-on-one conversations over coffee, and through casual evening activities. Each interaction was designed to make it easy for students to learn more about missions and discover opportunities to get involved.
Guests on Campus
The Monday, Wednesday, and Friday chapel sessions of Missions Emphasis featured three guest speakers.
Two were TCJ alumni: Josh Freeman and Greg Mann. Both of these men and their wives (also TCJ alumni) exemplify faithfulness and dedication to the Gospel. Serving in Togo, West Africa and Guyana, South America respectively, their passion for fulfilling the great commission has taken them to “the ends of the earth”. They count it a privilege to be working in areas of the world where the light of the gospel stands in stark contrast to the spiritual practices around them.
Our third guest was Steve Valentine, former missionary to Poland, who is now on staff with Converge. Sharing some of his personal experience on the mission field, he emphasized the need not only to live out the gospel in daily life but to share the gospel verbally:
“Actions authenticate a message, but they cannot replace it – words must be used!”
Students were left with the challenge to examine if their words and their life communicate the same message or if they are at odds with one another.
Why a Focus on Missions?
You may wonder why a college would dedicate an entire week to spotlight the Great Commission. Statistically, a small percentage of our student body will go on to serve in full-time missionary service in the traditional sense. After all, TCJ’s student body includes a variety of majors including Criminal Justice, Education, and Psychology. However, as a Christian institution, TCJ believes that every Christian is called to live on mission. What better way to help our students develop an appetite for living on mission than to emphasize its importance?
The Impact Missions Emphasis Has on Students
VP of Student Affairs, Dr. Adam Christmas shares, “Missions Emphasis helps lift our students’ perspective beyond their majors and future careers and reminds them that whatever vocation they enter in the future, it can still be a platform for the gospel. It also helps to shape a campus culture that values the Great Commission and encourages students to think about how God wants to use them wherever they go.”
He goes on to say that he has seen how God is using this past week to stir up the student body in a fresh way.
“We are already seeing students have more intentional conversations about calling and local and global service, along with a heightened spiritual focus across campus. Weeks like this plant seeds that God often uses in the months and years ahead to guide ministry involvement and future service.”
TCJ is grateful for the opportunity God continues to place before this institution: to prepare Christian men and women for life and ministry.
Various mission-minded organizations were set up in the main auditorium lobby this week, where students were encouraged to explore resources and organizations already at work in our city and beyond. Thanks to Lifewise Academy, Go To Nations, Kim’s Open Door, and Cup of Love, a ministry of Social Grounds Coffee for joining Trinity College of Jacksonville in Missions Emphasis Week!
