Lighthouse trips go far beyond the academics of regular study abroad experiences. The J-term Lighthouse program enables students to gain unforgettable, life-changing experiences while learning and serving abroad.
Our students study the cultural, historical, social, and religious aspects of a host country and are equipped to carry out ministry among the local people. They gain experience in cross-cultural outreach, develop their leadership potential, seek justice, grow spiritually, and put their passion for God into action.
And while each Lighthouse service trip is different, from evangelizing in the streets to helping build houses, every team’s goals are the same. We want to enter other cultures as humble servant-leaders, embody the core values in the Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Missions, serve as lights of God’s love and compassion, and become beacons of deeper faith and understanding others who serve in these communities.
Without outside support from Taylor University friends, family, and alumni, Lighthouse trips wouldn’t be possible. The support you provide through praying and giving can go beyond the boundaries of the discipleship we pursue through our trips. If you feel led to support Lighthouse missions financially, you can donate to the Lighthouse program online.
Focus: Work with children whose parent(s) are under economic stress
Ministry Partner: Footsteps Missions
Focus: work with youth and children
Ministry Partner: Greater Europe Mission
Focus: building Christ-like relationships with host families
Ministry Partner: The Navigators SEA Tribes
Focus: Apologetics & Faith Sharing
Ministry Partner: Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
Focus: work with children, youth, and college-age students
Ministry Partner: World Gospel Mission
We are also grateful for the long-term partnerships with our host families, host ministries, and organizations founded or run by Taylor graduates. Several partners have been to campus to share their stories personally with students in chapel and other venues, such as:
Approximately 80-100 Taylor students share in a diverse set of trips each year. Teams have served in Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Nepal, Czechia, Kosovo, Peru, Kenya, Uganda, Spain, Southeast Asia, and other locations.
Every day was filled with eye-opening experiences, new opportunities to serve, and increased growth among the people and within our team. Luke Rutan, Ethiopia Lighthouse Team
Once you go through the application process and are accepted onto a team, you will be enrolled in a one-credit fall course, which helps prepare you—along with your faculty sponsors and fellow students—for your trip. Students receive three credits during J-term for the on-field service-learning course, which fulfills the general education cross-cultural requirement.
Read student stories from last J-term’s trips on the Lighthouse blog, check out our Taylor World Outreach Facebook page in January for trip updates, or follow Taylor World Outreach on Instagram.
If you have any questions or concerns about Lighthouse missions, please email lighthouse@taylor.edu.