Evangelism Road trip: Tour of the Midwest
Apr 16
During Spring Break, some of the mentors and students at Foundry had the opportunity to go on a Midwest tour across Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.
We kicked off the trip in Elgin, Illinois where students helped to run a kids’ program while their parents attended various sessions at our Acts 2 Training Center. With chances to meet new people from our network and have fun with the kids (plus a Korean BBQ “thank you” dinner from the parents), it was a really meaningful way to start the trip. We ended our time in Chicago by joining our friends at Voyage College Church for Sunday Service.
From there, we drove down to Bloomington to connect with our church community at Indiana University. Their church leads graciously hosted us in their home, where we fellowshipped over snacks and met the college students and CPIs (church plant interns). The next day, we joined them for outreach on campus, and many of us experienced a lot of openness and meaningful conversations.
Our next stop was St. Louis, Missouri where we were greeted with a bit of a surprise. Our Airbnb looked nothing like the photos. Instead of being frustrated, we leaned into it and joked that it felt like we were on an overseas mission trip. The next morning, we did a prayer walk around Washington University, and after, we visited the iconic City Museum and the Gateway Arch.
Next stop: hitting the ground running with outreach at Mizzou. Despite the cold and windy weather, we pushed through to keep meeting new students and invite them to our special event at a nearby park.
On our way back to Minneapolis, we stopped at Iowa State University for a prayer walk, taking time to lift up the campus and future ministry there. When we finally arrived home, members of our church welcomed us back with a meal. It was the perfect ending—a time of rest, reflection, and fellowship.
To encapsulate the experience, one of the sophomore students, Jennifer shared the following:
At the beginning of the Spring 2026 Evangelism Road Trip, I felt nervous. The idea of approaching strangers and starting conversations about faith felt intimidating. I was afraid of being rejected or not knowing what to say. Throughout the week, I experienced both rejection and really meaningful moments of connection with strangers, along with Acts 2 Network and Foundry students, mentors, and staff. One moment that stood out to me was a conversation I had with a Christian student at IU. They shared about how much they appreciated what we were doing and how important their faith was to them, especially in college. That moment meant more to me than I expected. It reminded me that what we were doing truly mattered, and that God can use even small, simple conversations in ways we may not immediately see. This was emphasized when “It takes someone hearing the Gospel seven times before turning to Jesus. You can be one of the seven” was said to the students on this trip. This trip helped me realize the heart behind evangelizing and sharing the Gospel. It’s about being present, intentional, and genuinely caring for others in hope that they would choose and find life through Jesus and the many joys He offers. As I stepped out, I had to face my fear of rejection, and overtime, I felt myself becoming more willing and confident. I began to understand that obedience matters more than outcomes. Overall, this experience taught me more about the Christian life and obedience. Obedience now feels less like obligation and more like a real, growing relationship with Jesus. Moving forward, I want to continue growing spiritually and living out my faith with courage.
Thankful for all that we were able to experience across so many different campuses and in just such a short time! Last but not least, here’s a recap video we made to share about the trip!
