NAMB honors Hannibal-LaGrange for mobilizing students for missions

By Staff

HANNIBAL — Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG) received the top award among U.S. colleges and universities for mobilizing students for missions with the North American Mission Board. 

Van Simmons, director of student missionary deployment at the North American Mission Board (NAMB), presented the Courts Redford Award for Excellence to HLG President Woodrow Burt. The Courts Redford Award is given in recognition for being one of the top 10 colleges and universities in the nation for mobilizing students for missions with NAMB. This is the second year that HLG has received this award. In 2005, by participating in mission efforts through the North American Mission Board, HLG placed third out of 119 colleges and universities who send students to participate in NAMB projects. The 2007 Courts Redford Award, which was presented during March 26 HLG Summer Missions Commissioning Service, recognized HLG as No. 1 among 314 colleges and universities who send students to work with NAMB.

“Four years ago, Hannibal-LaGrange College made a commitment to be the center for recruitment and training of students called into mission service,” added Woodrow Burt, HLG President. “Over the past few years, the missions emphasis at HLG has grown and expanded to include the addition of the Carroll Missions Center; an Intercultural Missions major/minor; mission trips every school break; a 3-day missions conference series designed to expose our students to mission efforts around the world, along with offering other mission opportunities throughout the school year. The Courts Redford Award is a special affirmation to our students for their participation in mission efforts all over the United States.”

HLG students participated in several North American Mission Board (NAMB) initiatives in 2007 including sports-related clinics, summer camps, and the Cleveland Hope project. Cleveland, Ohio, was named one of the strategic cities in 2007 by the Southern Baptist Convention. HLG students spent four weeks in May 2007, in Cleveland, Ohio, participating in sports clinics, painting homes for senior adults, and other labor intensive projects.