Greetings from Wheaton College! We are writing to introduce you to the Office of Christian Outreach, and more specifically, the Global Urban Perspectives (GUP) program that your son/daughter may be serving with this summer.
The Office of Christian Outreach (OCO) is dedicated to offering the Wheaton College community opportunities to learn through service. All seven ministries partner with international and national organizations, along with faculty and staff across departments and disciplines, to offer students unique opportunities to learn by combining their faith and academics through service.
Specifically, Global Urban Perspectives provides opportunities, both during the summer and school year, for students to learn more about urban society and issues flowing out of urban centers locally and around the world. Through GUP, Wheaton students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in U.S. cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles and various international cities like Xela, Guatemala, Manila, The Philippines and Mexico City, Mexico.
As an OCO staff, we communicate regularly with the students while they are serving domestically or internationally, we process applications, coach students through support raising, coordinate travel schedules, prepare students through orientation for their service learning, and pray for them as they go. After completing an orientation program, each team is received by long term partners who oversee their field work for 6-10 weeks. Each team member then returns to their home town.
As a ministry, we believe strongly in the participation of the local church and value interaction with the parents of our students and so we invite you to explore the under Global Urban Perspectives to get a sense of what your student will be doing this Spring and Summer.
Should you have any questions about the Office of Christian Outreach, GUP, this summer, or our service learning opportunities in general, please don't hesitate to e-mail or call us.
In closing, we want to reiterate our commitment to communicate with you. Thank you for taking an active role in the lives of your sons and daughters—we appreciate you. We look forward to seeing how God will work this summer!
Blessings,
Office of Christian Outreach Staff
E: oco@wheaton.edu | P: 630.752.5076