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n the weeks leading up to her first
day of classes at CIU, freshman
Jennifer Craven was ministering in
Thailand through education and
community development. She enjoyed
teaching English to children, including
leading them in “Old McDonald,”
and helping to build fish cages for an
impoverished community so they could
generate a source of income.
Since eighth grade, Craven has had a call
to missionary work. A Lexington, South
Carolina native, she traveled on two
mission trips to Thailand with her church,
and now feels led to long-term ministry
in South Sudan.
“About five years ago, South Sudan was
a very consistent area that the Lord was
leading me toward,” she said. “Time
and time again, He would remind me of
missions and He made it so evident
that I couldn’t say no.”
Craven is majoring in Teacher
Education, looking for
practical instruction and
spiritual guidance to
help her teach children
overseas on the
mission field. She
says God has
already been
preparing her
through tough
times in her life;
times when she
has drawn close
to Him.
“On [my] first
day of high
school, my
youth pastor
died,” Craven
said. “That
really wrecked
me, because
I was so close
with him, and
he had a lot of influence on my life.”
As she grieved, she also grew stronger
in her faith. She learned to lean on God
even when circumstances didn’t make
sense.
“I learned that I have to trust the Lord,
because He knew what He was doing,”
Craven said. “Our youth group grew
so much stronger. I wouldn’t be where I
am spiritually if (my youth pastor) hadn’t
died.”
Throughout high school, Craven also
taught Sunday school, provided child
care for weeknight ministries, and served
in student ministry.
“I would say that I was really active in the
student ministry,” Craven said. “I served
on our sound team, and I served on the
leadership team, and I was doing small
groups.”
Though she has a close community at
her church, Craven has quickly formed a
community around her at CIU as well.
“Everyone’s really friendly, and I’m
really surprised at how fast I have built a
community and a tight group of friends,”
she said.
She looks forward to the next four years
as a chance to grow socially, spiritually,
and academically.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge,
but I think I can do it,” she said. “I [look
forward] to building a community
here.”
I
Learning to Minister
Through Tough Times
Jennifer
Craven
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