Experiencing Missions

Transforming the World

Eastern Christian High School has taken an active role in Transforming the World by moving students out of their comfort zone and into a lifestyle of service to others. Through Faith in Action service projects, students are challenged to look beyond their everyday lives and serve at their local churches, within the community, and overseas. Eva’s Kitchen in Paterson, Safe Haven Urban Redemption in Newark, St. Stephen’s School in Uganda, and Casa Cielo Orphanage in Honduras are a few of the ministries in which students have been involved. Transformation of the world is important, however, transformation of each student’s life and their walk with Christ is the primary focus of any service project.

Missions Class

Eastern Christian is changing the Bible elective, Experiencing Missions, to a hybrid online course for the 2010-2011 school year. Students who sign up for this elective will do all course work outside of school hours. Throughout the class, students will study various people-groups in the United States and the world. The concept of service will be explored through a variety of local service projects, missionary interviews and a mission trip experience. Practical, hands-on opportunities will compliment the theological study of missions. Students who sign up for this course will be responsible for raising support for the approximate $2500 cost of the mission trip. Guidance on raising support and fundraisers will be provided.

First semester

• Participating students will travel to Honduras to invest in the lives of the children at the Casa Cielo Orphanage. Students will be challenged to pour out love to children who the world considers "the least of these."

Second Semester

• Juniors and Seniors will have the opportunity to study and visit Uganda, Africa, by partnering with missionaries that are serving at an orphanage in Kampala and at an IDP camp in Gulu. Students will be challenged to live outside of their comfort zone and consider what it means to be revolutionary. A highlight will be to visit St. Stephen's School and meet the children that the high school has been supporting over the year.

Experiencing Missions 2011 – 2012

     Welcome to a brand new school year! Experiencing Missions will meet once a week during SOAR – that means you can still take the class and earn 2.5 credits even if your blocks are filled with other classes.

How does this class work?

     Each class will start in September, meeting once a week during SOAR with your team. During class or throughout the week you will watch videos, write journals, complete group projects, and read excerpts from different mission books. There will also be a Missions Retreat Training in February that will focus on a service project and more preparation.

Why is EC doing this?

     At EC we strive to give students leadership opportunities where they can become a person of vision and influence. By compassionately serving others that are less fortunate than ourselves, we follow the mandate that Christ set out for us – to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. A life changing way is by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone you meet. We believe that by giving students these opportunities to serve, they will embrace the diversity and global influence in our changing world that desperately needs to hear the love of Christ.

What are the dates, locations, and ages for the trips?

     Boston (All Grades) Monday, March 26 – April 1, 2012

     Honduras (All Grades) Friday, March 23 – April 2, 2012

     Uganda (Juniors & Seniors) Wednesday, March 21 – April 2, 2012

What will I do at each location?

     Boston – You will partner with the Boston Dream Center in Lynn, Massachusetts. Spend a week sharing the love of Jesus through word and deed with a community that needs Him desperately. The mornings are spent completing work projects at the church and there in the local community. Afternoons are spent sharing the love of Christ through various outreaches. The primary focus of this trip is to build relationships, pray, and share with the people the free gift of Christ's love.

     Honduras – You will partner with the Casa Cielo Orphanage and the Christian Institute of Creative Learning as they seek to give 24 children their childhood back by having them be part of a huge loving family. Construction in underway on the new orphanage where we will spend time doing work projects and assisting in the construction. In the local village we will be doing children's ministry by sharing in song, puppets, Bible stories, and games. Since school will be in session, some students will get to teach English. Of course there will be time with the children in the orphanage! You can check out their website at www.casaderoc.org to learn more about them.

     Uganda - You will participate in the ministry of Touch the World Uganda by traveling to the Dream Center in Gulu, northern Uganda. TTW's Dream Center is equipping former child soldiers and young people affected by the longest-running war in Africa how to rebuild a new hope for the future. You will be a part of making their dreams a reality! Check out www.ttwuganda.com to learn more!

How many days of classes will I miss for the Mission Trip?

ALL trips are going out over Spring Break which is from March 26 – 30, 2012

     Boston – no days of school will be missed

     Honduras – since this trip is during Spring Break (March 26-30) students will possibly miss an additional 2 days of classes. All teachers are willing to work with the students to make up the missed assignments.

     Uganda – since this trip is during Spring Break (March 26-30) students will miss an additional 4 days of classes. All teachers are willing to work with the students to make up the missed assignments.

Are the trips required?

     Yes! In order to receive credit and to be enrolled in the class you must go on the trip. The mission trip will also put into practice the information and activities you have learned.

How much will it cost?

     Until we know exactly how many students are enrolled in each class, the cost below is an estimate. The more students that sign up, the lower the cost for everyone since it spreads out some of the shared costs. Also, airfare is not included due to the fluctuation in prices. We do look for the best airfare deals and will book them ASAP.

     Boston – approximately $700 total

     Honduras – approximately $950.00 plus airfare

     Uganda – approximately $1,300.00 plus airfare

Will EC help me raise the money?

     You will have opportunity to participate in fundraisers through the school. However, EC will not be completely responsible for developing all fundraisers and cannot guarantee the amount of money made at each one. Parents and students need to work together to find ways to raise funds. Any fundraiser at EC will require parent involvement. Fundraising packets with prayer cards and support letters will be sent home to you at the end of September. You will need to send your support letters out quickly! If you know you are going, start fundraising now! The summer is a great time to earn extra money for your trip!

Who are the chaperones/leaders on the trip?

     EC will provide the chaperones/leaders, all who have a passion to minister to students while serving on the mission field. All leaders must be approved by the administration and participate in the fundraising and training activities. There will be both male and female leaders.

Why is Touch the World Involved?

     Touch the World is a ministry based out of Allendale that seeks to see the lives of students changed through missions by offering mission trips to areas around the world. Boston, Honduras and Uganda are just a few of the many locations that they send students. They will partner with EC to take care of all the logistical items (travel, communication with the missionary host, finances, and training). Many of the mailings and travel and medical forms you will receive will come from Touch the World.

How can I be sure that my child will be safe?

     EC and Touch the World are in constant communication with the missionary hosts to receive updated information on what is happening in their local community. We also follow the suggestions from the embassy of each country and will make any necessary adjustments to the point of canceling a trip if it is unsafe to travel.

For more information please contact Debbie Herbst at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

All classes for the 2011-2012 school year are filled! Information for the 2012-2013 school year will become available in May.