For students enrolled in the Comprehensive Evangelism program at Streams of Light Training Institute (SOLTI), missionary training extends far beyond the classroom.
Throughout the 10-month program, students receive hands-on experience in literature evangelism, Bible work, health outreach, public evangelism, and leadership while participating in mission projects across the United States. This summer, however, many students had the opportunity to expand that experience even further by serving on mission trips in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Ibiza, Spain.
Working alongside local church members, students distributed thousands of copies of The Great Controversy and health magazines, prayed with residents, conducted health outreach, and connected dozens of people to Bible studies. The experience broadened each student’s understanding of cross-cultural ministry while reinforcing one of the program’s central lessons: the Everlasting Gospel reaches hearts in every nation.
For Morgan Tyler, one of the greatest discoveries was how familiar the mission field felt, even halfway around the world.
“The mission field doesn’t really change when you go to Europe,” Tyler said. “Aside from the different languages, it felt like I was canvassing in America. … Realistically, I don’t see a huge difference between Europe and America. No matter where you go, the commission never changes.”
The experience also deepened his dependence on God. Unable to communicate fluently with many of the people he met, Tyler found himself relying more heavily on prayer than ever before.
“If there is one thing I would say was extremely important during those trips, it was prayer.”
That lesson was reinforced repeatedly as students witnessed hearts opening despite language barriers.
Seth Wickham experienced the same reality.
Serving in countries where he often couldn’t communicate verbally forced him to recognize that the Holy Spirit accomplishes what human ability cannot.
“Because I didn’t speak the language, I found myself in a position where prayer was really my only option,” Wickham reflected. “The power of prayer during the Ibiza mission was simply remarkable.”
His experience also highlighted another valuable aspect of the training program: providing students with hands-on experiences in reaching cultures and communities different from their own.
“What I found most special about working in a foreign mission context was the exposure to a different culture, a different language, and a different way of life,” he said. “I simply enjoyed experiencing something different.”
For Willow Metzger, the greatest impact came through seeing the same need for hope in people everywhere.
“One word I would use to describe these mission trips is impactful,” Metzger said. “They have impacted me in many ways and have been very eye-opening.”
Whether ministering in Rotterdam or Ibiza, she discovered that people everywhere are searching for something more.
“It reminded me that there are people everywhere who need something better. They need hope. They need help. They need happiness.”
One encounter in Rotterdam especially strengthened her faith. After feeling discouraged while working alone in an apartment building, she met a young mother who accepted a book and immediately broke down in tears after mentioning her struggles with mental health.
“I asked if she needed a hug, and she said yes,” Metzger recalled. “The Lord sends us divine appointments right when we feel discouraged. He gives us opportunities to encourage someone else, and in doing so, He encourages us as well.”
The European mission trips also allowed students to develop practical leadership skills by working alongside local churches, adapting to unfamiliar cultures, and learning how to communicate the Three Angels’ Messages in different settings.
According to Alissa Gomez, evangelism coordinator for Streams of Light Training Institute, one of the most encouraging aspects of the Rotterdam mission was watching local church members gain confidence through the students’ example.
One lay member who had been reluctant to participate in door-to-door ministry was paired with a SOLTI student. By the end of the week, his entire outlook had changed.
“He realized it wasn’t as hard as he thought it was going to be,” Gomez said. “People were actually very receptive, and it completely changed his perspective.”
The exchange became mutually beneficial. Local church members gained practical experience, while SOLTI students learned how to mentor, encourage, and lead others in ministry—important components of their training.
Those leadership opportunities continued throughout both mission trips as students worked with pastors, lay members, translators, and believers from multiple countries.
By the conclusion of the two European mission trips, students had participated in distributing more than 14,000 pieces of literature and had been part of seeing more than 150 people request Bible studies. For many, Europe reinforced a truth they had already begun learning throughout their Comprehensive Evangelism training: methods may change, languages may differ, and cultures may vary, but the work of winning souls remains the same.
As Tyler reflected after returning home, “Our responsibility is simply to present the truth. If the Holy Spirit has been working on their heart, He will take care of the rest.”
Experiences like these are one reason the Comprehensive Evangelism program intentionally combines classroom instruction with extensive field training. By serving in diverse communities across North America and in cross-cultural mission settings, students learn firsthand that although cultures and languages vary, people everywhere are searching for hope. The experience broadens their perspective, strengthens their confidence, and reinforces the mission to see every home reached with the Three Angels’ Messages.
