By Ashley Holt, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “Every break is an opportunity,” said Ed Pavy, Campbellsville University's director of campus ministries.

“Campbellsville University is a Christian university that extends its faith to others around the country and world throughout the year primarily during academic breaks.”

Several university students are using their various talents this summer to aid in the Great Commission.

A group called CU Crew is traveling the state aiding with Vacation Bible Schools. The students go through training to learn the curriculum necessary for the different Vacation Bible Schools, and then they will be dispatched for eight weeks during the summer, Pavy said.

One week will include working in a church in central Ohio. Deborah Dean, a CU senior from Rising Sun, Md., said, “Vacation Bible School is an amazing way to have fun with kids and teach them about Jesus.”

Dean has attended Vacation Bible Schools with CU Crew before and said, “It is a challenge at times, especially when I was completely covered in throw up by a three-year-old at our first church, but I'm so glad I have the opportunity to be on CU Crew again.”

She said during the first week 230 children attended each day, and this week when numbers were expected between 30 and 50 children a night, the first night has already brought out 55 children.

Summertime also brings various church camps in which CU students sometimes participate as counselors. One of those camps that Campbellsville University is hosting is called CentriKid.

CentriKid camps cater to youth of all interests. The campers participate in recreation activities, Bible studies and worship.

“It's not only a time to minister to the campers and the children attending VBS, but it's about personal growth for the students that participate as well,” Pavy said.

Kentucky Heartland Outreach “KHO” is another missions opportunity available to CU students. KHO focuses on the local communities as participants help with general house repairs for those who are unable to attain them otherwise and simultaneously share their faith with the homeowner. The participants also gather together at night for a worship service.

John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, said, “We are very thankful for the number of Campbellsville University students, along with faculty and staff, who spend their summer months on mission at various points around the state, nation and world.

“We are committed to the Great Commission and encourage our students to participate in missions year around. The summer months allow our students the opportunity to spend some extended time to participate in some meaningful missions experience. The results are eternal in consequence in the lives impacted by our students' outreach efforts.”

Though the summer is still early, the Office of Campus Ministries staff is beginning to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming semester, which include, but are not limited to, traveling to China and Costa Rica for mission work.

“Nothing is set yet,” Pavy said. “In the past, assistant football coach Jim Hardy has taken football players to Florida during spring break, which he is now considering going on Christmas break. He is involved with an organization called Sports Reach which is a prison ministry begun by an alumnus from CU, Robbie Speer.”

In the past, students have played softball with prisoners in Florida and shared the gospel with them.

Students working with missions this summer from Campbellsville University include: Carla Edmondson of Independence, Ky., M-Fuge; Warren Akers of Campbellsville, Kentucky Heartland Outreach (KHO), Campbellsville; Tierra Alexander of Independence, Ky., camp counselor in Ohio; Hillary Anderson of Campbellsville, CentriKid staff, various locations in the United States;

Duncan Arnold of Campbellsville, CU Crew; Brittany Asbury of Louisville, Ky., camp counselor, Crossings, Jonathan Creek; Cristy Asbury of Louisville, Ky., camp counselor, Glorietta, N.M.; Garrett Baker of Bowling Green, Ky., camp staffer, Seattle, Wash.; Tori Baker of Junction City, Ky., urban ministry, Washington, D.C.; Rebecca Bess of Owenton, Ky., youth ministry, Summersville, Ky.;

Olivia Brainard of Somerset, Ky., church intern, Somerset, Ky.; Clint Brame of Hopkinsville, Ky., HR Ministries, Princeton, Ky.; Emily Bryant of Louisville, Ky., Westport Road Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky.;

Amy Busse of Elizabethtown, Ky., CU Crew; Phil Carlisle of Harrodsburg, Ky., sports ministry, Nepal; Kristina Critcher of Boone, N.C., KHO; Holly Davidson of London, Ky., camp staffer, Crossings, Cedarmore;

Deborah Dean of Rising Sun, Md., CU Crew; Amanda Filipp of Campbellsville, HR Ministries, Princeton, Ky.; Amanda Ford of Louisville, Ky., CU Crew;

Kenton Hallinan of Louisville, Ky., camp staffer, CentriKid, various locations in United States; Austin Hammons of Lawrenceburg, Ky., camp staffer, Crossings, Jonathan Creek; Lindsey Hammers of Fairdale, Ky., North Dakota;

Alan Haven of Shelbyville, Ky., M-Fuge, Alabama; Logan Hazelwood of Salvisa, Ky., camp counselor, Crossings, Jonathan Creek; Brian House of Madisonville, Ky., M-Fuge;

Aaron Hutchinson of Dry Ridge, Ky., camp staffer, Crossings, Jonathan Creek; Collin Johnson of Shelbyville, Ky., KHO, Campbellsville; Erin Johnson of Russellville, Ky., camp staffer, Crossings, Cedarmore;

Jordan Johnson of Russellville, Ky., camp staff, Crossings, Cedar; Reyn Judd of Greensburg, Ky., youth internship, Campbellsville; Courtney Keller of Canton, Mo., camp counselor, Crossings, Cedarmore;

Jennifer Lilly of Grayson, Ky., M-Fuge; Garett Lowery of Mt. Washington, Ky., church intern, Bardstown, Ky.; Liz Lowery of Westmoreland, Tenn., M-Fuge, Williamsburg, Ky.;

Jeremy Mathis of Campbellsville, Go Tell Ministries, United States and Costa Rica; Kevin Metzger of Richmond, Va., camp staffer, Crossings, Cedarmore; Maribeth Milburn of Lawrenceburg, Ky., church intern, Lawrenceburg, Ky.;

Derek Morris of Salvisa, Ky., camp counselor, Crossings, Jonathan Creek; Trask Murphy of Madisonville, Ky., youth ministry, Summersville, Ky.; Chelsi Netherland of Leitchfield, Ky., Camp Counselor, Crossings, Cedarmore;

Rebecca Oliver of Scottsville, Ky., KHO, Campbellsville; Megan Parson of Greensburg, Ky., Homeless Ministry, Chicago, Ill.; Anthony Phillips of Leitchfield, Ky., CU Crew;

Jessica Porche of Gracey,Ky., Global Expeditions, Baja, Mexico; Tiffany Ramos of Walton, Ky., ESL, China; Nathan Riley of Bowling Green, Ky., CentriKid, Across United States;

Rachel Sherron of West Paducah, Ky., Youth Ministry Internship, Bardstown, Ky.; Rachel Szabo of Florence, Ky., Jefferson Street Homeless Shelter, Louisville, Ky.; André Tomaz of Brazil, KHO, Campbellsville; and Tasha West of Berea, Ky., camp counselor, Crossings, Jonathan Creek.