Senior European Ministry Tour


The Senior European Ministry Tour is the culminating event in the education of StoneBridge students. In 1994, principal Mark Keating and teacher Gai Ferdon started the program to give students an opportunity to put their acquired knowledge and resources to the test in a practical, real-world experience. In 1995, four students made SBHS history by becoming the first class to set foot on European soil and through their experiences, paved the way for all subsequent senior classes. Now, each year the current 12th grade class travels to Europe sometime in mid- to late-March for approximately two weeks. 

 

As any alumnus can tell you, senior trip is anything but a vacation and involves months of careful planning, prayer, and fundraising (students must provide for their own trip expenses, roughly $2,000). Though each class chooses the itinerary for their trip, Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is always the first destination. Jet-lagged, but excited to be abroad, students are welcomed in Slovakia each year by friends from the YWAM team working in the former soviet country. Hours after touching down, StoneBridge students are given any number of challenging assignments including ministering in hospitals, sharing in schools, or working in gypsy settlements. Despite the many days of hard work spent there, it is always the students' favorite part of the trip and sets the tone for the remainder of the tour.

 

Destinations following ministry work in Bratislava in years past have included:

  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Geneva, Switzerland
  • Munich, Germany
  • Rome, Italy
  • Florence, Italy
  • Venice, Italy
  • Paris, France
  • Normandy, France
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • London, England
  • Canterbury, England


Testimonial from Former Student     

      

"In March of 2000, with 11 students and 13 overstuffed backpacks, my class was the sixth class to tour nine cities in seven European countries in three weeks. We woke early in the morning, stayed out late each night, slept on trains, ate regional foods and absorbed everything we could as we walked each city from end to end. At the age of 18 it was a tremendous time of exploration and reflection on my personal relationships, my future ambitions and my place in the world.

Since then I have had the opportunity to be a chaperone for the last three senior trips. Though each one has been unique in the character of the students, the stops along the way, and the challenges that present themselves, during each one the unfailing faithfulness of the Lord to StoneBridge has been evident. At the end of each trip I exhort the students to tell their friends, family and younger classes how God revealed Himself while they were in Europe. Serving as a chaperone has blessed me in many ways, but most of all it has given me a profound appreciation for Mr. Keating's dedication to each student and the dynamic way that the school allows each senior class a chance to explore their horizons."

- Joy Witten, Class of 2000

More Information

For more information about the Senior European Ministry Tour, please contact the high school office at (757) 465-7397, ext. 112, or email Upper School Dean of Students Mark Keating, who also coordinates the trip each year.