By Gracie Fairfax | Echo
This week more than 30 missions organizations and 60 representatives flooded Taylor's campus. The purpose: World Opportunities Week 2013, commonly referred to as WOW.
WOW, a week organized by seniors and Mel Kerigan and Celeste Harris, WOW's co-director's, strives to educate students on the opportunities available to use individual gifts for the kingdom of God. WOW's mission is to encourage students to dig into their individual passions and allow God to use their passions for the kingdom of God.
"God has given you those passions for a reason, and he wants you to use them and has given you a bold desire to use them in your work no matter what area that's in . . . Whether it's sports or business . . . those things can still be used for the kingdom," Kerigan said.
WOW wants students to know their passions have worth no matter what their vocation is. Harris said she loves to knit and has realized that she can use that passion for the kingdom of God by knitting shawls for the poor.
On Monday in chapel, students heard from April Jurgensen, a Taylor graduate and the executive director of the Boaz Project. The Boaz Project helps orphans in Russia, Kenya and India by showing them the love of Christ and meeting their physical needs by providing clothing, education and medical care.
Students connected with Jurgensen's message, grasping the idea that everyone is in need of a Savior. Junior Ronni Meier especially connected with the idea Jurgensen presented of everyone being orphans.
Seriously my favorite week of the year. #wowitup #globallyengaged #passion #tayloru- Becky Jacobs (@jacobs_becky) November 4, 2013
"It connected us to the idea that we aren't so different than the people that Jurgensen's serving," Meier said.
Dawnielle Miller, an '04 Taylor business graduate, spoke in chapel on Wednesday. She is now applying the lifelong lessons she acquired from Taylor to a nonprofit outreach ministry in Alexandria, Va. She lives and works in a low-income, Hispanic neighborhood, striving to create opportunities for the neighborhood children through education, community service, faith journey and prayer.
Also included in the week was a job fair Wednesday night. WOW partnered with the Calling and Career office, creating an opportunity for students to get connected with organizations that offer jobs and internships.
Hanging out @tayloru for WOW! Come see us. #wowitup pic.twitter.com/HuR8hrHCYk - ServLife (@ServLife) November 4, 2013
Time to get serious about my future. #senior #wowitup- Celeste Harris (@celestehillary) November 7, 2013
Today, WOW closed out the week with a chapel featuring Taylor senior Dan Aust. He is 21 years old and has a passion for the economy in Kenya.
"I am hoping to start a for-profit dairy processor in Kenya to help create jobs in the factory but also to empower farmers by offering fair prices," Aust said.
Aust believes God has a calling for everyone, although some callings look a little different.
"My advice is be available. God doesn't call everyone to dairy ventures in Kenya, but is always calling us to something," Aust said. "Pursuing your passion doesn't mean dropping out of school, but I think it looks more like using your education and spiritual growth to fuel your dreams and pursuits."
Through Aust's chapel, students saw that they can use their passions domestically or internationally before they graduate.
As David Hatfield, executive director of Polish Christian Ministries, put it: "Sometimes it takes going 1,000 miles away to discover what God wants you to do in your own backyard."
