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BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Center for Global Connections honored an SBU employee and an SBU alumnus with its annual Nations Award during the
Global Connections Week Chapel service on Wednesday, Sept. 15.
The award recognizes an SBU employee and alumnus who have been an integral part of the CGC purpose of promoting ministry, education and missionary development on SBU’s campus.
“These honorees have a heart and passion to share the love of Jesus Christ with others and have made a significant impact on our campus as they served in SBU CGC mission endeavors,” said Diana Gallamore, director of the CGC and travel stewardship. “We gladly recognize them today for their ministry efforts with the CGC and for the Christian and missionary lifestyle they represent.”
Julie Mpofu ’15, admissions and alumni coordinator in SBU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, was the employee recipient of the CGC Nations Award “for exemplifying a heart and passion for missions.”
“Julie is a third-generation SBU graduate who was initially drawn to SBU because of the Christian environment and the many opportunities to participate in international missions,” Gallamore said. “As a student at SBU, she participated in a number of local and international mission trips and served as a marketing intern in the CGC office. She participated in teams to South Dakota, El Salvador, Senegal – probably three times – and Contagium, which was a missions-focused training ministry for local youth.
“After graduating from SBU with a degree in web systems and design in 2015, she moved
to Zimbabwe to work in marketing and communications for Operation Mobilization Zimbabwe.
Since returning to Bolivar to work in graduate admissions at SBU, she has helped lead
multiple short-term missions back to Zimbabwe and helps facilitate a missions-focused
Community Life + Worship group called ‘Be the Salt.’ Her family is in the process
of establishing an organization in Zimbabwe that fulfills a dream to continue long-term
ministry focusing on discipleship and community development in the rural areas.”
Mpofu said she is humbled by the recognition and that serving is “just a part of life.”
“The honor reminded me that I have been blessed to grow up in a family that faithfully serves the Lord and is very active in missions,” Mpofu said. “For me, receiving this award is a testament to those that have impacted my life toward missions and a personal challenge to continue to pass on that legacy to my kids.
“I can’t imagine not using my time and abilities to help spread the Gospel, disciple others, and encourage young people to do the same. We serve a God that gave everything for us, so it is my joy to use my life to serve His Kingdom.”
The alumni recipient, anonymous for security reasons, was recognized “for exceptional service in the forgotten corners of the world.”
The alumni recipient was active in CGC projects as both a participant and a leader
during their undergraduate years at SBU.
“This award recipient represents Christ where He is very much unknown,” said Kelly Rehm, assistant director of the Center for Global Connections. “They share Jesus while building real relationships with people and mentors those already a part of the body of Christ. They have furthered their education and skills for lifelong service there these past few years.”
Global Fest
The SBU Center for Global Connections held its semester Global Fest on Wednesday, Sept. 15, to highlight the upcoming 2021-2022 CGC mission projects.
Twenty mission projects were presented, and participants in attendance were able to visit each booth to learn more about the specific mission, taste some cultural food, see pictures of past teams’ ministry, and receive information on how they can be involved in an SBU mission.
SBU CGC projects for 2021-2022 include:
To learn more about the Center for Global Connections, please contact the CGC office at (417) 328-1900.
TOP PHOTO: Julie Mpofu (center) receives the employee CGC Nations Award from Diana Gallamore (left) and Kelly Rehm.
GLOBAL FEST PHOTOS (Photo credit: Diana Gallamore) Visitors to Global Fest check out a few of the mission projects’ booths.
*Published: 9-17-2021