Missions a conduit for God’s blessings on others

His experience in Peru last year helping build churches and lead worship services proved life changing for communications and pre-law major Keith Ybanez. As a result, his broadened views will one day lead to improved lives for those in difficult and vulnerable circumstances.

Ybanez, a La Sierra University student and the campus's recruiting director for missions, spent more than nine months in Peru on a long-term missions trip through La Sierra. He is now planning to focus on international law aiding underserved populations. “I never considered the ways my career [in law] can help others,” he said, until he observed the plight of the impoverished in Peru.

As a missions recruiting director, Ybanez hopes to inspire other students to embark on such a journey of broadened discovery. He and other missions department staff stepped up their efforts during the annual Missions Rush Week of activities held Jan. 10 -13, and through various activities aimed to bolster the spiritual lives of La Sierra's students and inspire interest in serving God through missions work.

The week's offerings included nightly worships, a missions village where students could hear the inspiring stories of student missionaries and a prayer labyrinth where walkers could pass through a maze carrying CD players recorded with spiritual messages. The labyrinth, a 40-minute or so walk through twisting brown fabric walls included stops along the way for spiritual activities such as tossing a pebble into a pool of water to symbolically cast cares upon God.

“I liked the prayer labyrinth,” said Laura Naranjo, a freshman biology and pre-med major. “I took an hour there it was a peaceful experience.” A walk through the labyrinth can remind students not to worry or be afraid of separation from family and friends, she said.

The week capped off with an inspiring message at La Sierra University Church by José Vicente Rojas, director of volunteer ministries for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists and an alumnus of La Sierra University.

Rojas, a pastor, author and accomplished musician, has received state and national awards and honors for his work aiding humanitarian causes. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in religion from Loma Linda University and serves as a member of the U.S. national organization, The Alliance for Youth, founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell. He has also worked with the White House over several years, assisting two Presidents of the United States with domestic policy initiatives for humanitarian leadership in the U.S.

Rojas delivered a powerful sermon on the meaning of mission as depicted in the life of Jesus at the time of John the Baptist's death. 

With great detail, Rojas painted a verbal picture of the story of the Baptist's death and Jesus' efforts to acquire time alone to grieve for his cousin. “When family dies it's tough stuff. Life shifts for you,” Rojas said. “…the human in Him had to grieve like all the rest of us.”

He described Jesus' loss of that desired time of mourning to the gathering throng and Jesus' answer to the call to serve the anxious people with miraculous healing first, and then with life-changing words.

With a bit of humor mixed in, Rojas took listeners through the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes that fed thousands gathered around Him. He described Jesus' nighttime walk on a stormy sea and command over the elements in a final miraculous act that topped off an amazing and exhausting day.

“Mission is not what you do. Mission is what God does through you for the blessing of others,” said Rojas. He repeated the theme throughout his talk.  “Jesus, the most eloquent communicator that has ever walked this planet, was not known for His mouth, He was known for His hands because wherever He went His hands went into it first,” Rojas said.

“Sooner or later mission needs to occur in your life as well,” he said, calling for at least 50 students to apply for missions service at La Sierra.

“Guess where I learned about missions? Right here on this campus,” Rojas continued, describing his work in communities that has included helping gang members and the homeless. “Guess where I learned about community? At La Sierra. When the White House called and I became an advisor to the President of the United States, guess what my emphasis was? Community.”

“La Sierra changed my life. I don't know how else to say it. Let it change yours as well,” Rojas said. “Get out there and show us what you mean. Impact this world. The greatest leaders in the nation's history were men and women who were not known for what they said, they were known for what they did.”

Several students, gathered at the missions village for a free noon barbecue following Rojas's talk, commented on the worship presentation.

“He called everybody out,” added Enrique Verduzco, an exercise science major and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. “It makes me think about missions. I would [go] if I could.”

“The temptation to go check it out [missions] gets greater every year,” said Daniel Olnedo, a liberal studies major.

Linda Biswas, La Sierra's missions director, said she would not know until spring quarter how many students submitted an application for missionary service as a result of the week's activities. “There is always an influx after Missions Rush Week and we take the quarter to work with all the applicants,” she said.

“I have no doubt that with the efforts put forth by Pastor Rojas, participating faculty, staff, the terrific student missionary crew and with the help of the Holy Spirit, that we will have a fantastic new set of student missionaries prepped and ready to answer the call for the 2011-2012 school year,” continued Biswas. “It is always encouraging to have such inspirational leaders like Pastor Rojas come and share their story, their heart and their passion for Christ's work in such vivid candidness.”

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)