The Baptist Foundation of South Carolina has awarded a $10,000 grant to North Greenville University to support its intercultural studies degree program.

The grant assists students who participate in an annual field immersion experience designed to prepare them for the challenges and complexities of living and ministering in a variety of cross-cultural settings.

“This grant not only helps to offset some … expense, but it also encourages these students in their pursuit of God’s call upon their lives to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations,” said Allen McWhite, director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Engagement and Global Leadership.

Over the history of this program, intercultural studies majors have carried out their field immersion experiences in places like China and Romania. For the past four years, however, students have served in Ecuador. Under the supervision of field missionaries, pastors and leaders, they have learned about evangelism and church planting strategies, leadership development, children’s and youth ministries, human needs ministries, and prayer strategy.

McWhite said the purpose of the field immersion experience is to expose students, at a deep level, to the culture and history of their host country and then help them see how that history and culture impact the way the gospel is shared and churches are planted in that particular context.

“Even though the field immersion experience is carried out in a specific country, we believe that the missiological principles these students learn will help them in whatever location they find themselves serving — even our own increasingly multicultural North America,” said McWhite.