Welcome Week at the Institute for GOD is one of the most exciting times of the year—a chance for new students to discover campus life, build friendships, and step into a season of growth. To give you an inside look, three of our current students share their own experiences, memories, and highlights from this special week. Their stories capture the energy, community, and heart that make Welcome Week unforgettable.

National Decision Day, celebrated on May 1, is when college-bound seniors officially commit to their chosen school, marking a major life milestone. This blog encourages students to celebrate the day with purpose—through personal reflection, social media, and community support—while highlighting the spiritual significance of the decision. The Institute for GOD invites students to mark the occasion with faith, community, and intentional steps toward who they're becoming, not just where they're going.

In this testimony, Olivia reflects on her transformative immersion experience in India, where she witnessed how God's Word brings hope and change to lives. Through teaching, fellowship, and encountering profound challenges, she shares stories of faith, growth, and the tangible impact of God's love and provision.

Gabriella shares about her experience as a participant in the Summer Internship program this year and how this experience changed her experience in school.

Lydia Winter shares a testimony about her immersion trip, the Word of God not returning void, and the growth in her and our community in East Africa.

GOD International Immersion Particant Jesse Grooms testifies about how the Lord has led him, his immersion project, but moreover, the overarching project God has been doing in him.

Olivia Beaverson writes about a standout moment in Eastern Uganda, asking herself, “Is what we’re doing enough?” only to be assured that God is working beyond what she can see.

This East Africa Immersion trip, Erin Gammill shares how she’s been blessed with the opportunity to help implement the first SLAM program in Uganda. She loved being behind the scenes and doing tasks to bring organization to the event, as well as getting to help with healthcare needs there.

Olivia Lasater shares her experiences being abroad on Immersion in India and how thankful she is for her education in the Bible. She testifies to the relationships she has and is building—she connects this to how important friends are to Jesus.

Walt Reynolds, immersion participant, shares about a full week of ministry alongside the Summer Internship team.

Hear a testimony from Simon Liley from the 2024 summer South East Asia immersion team as he reflects on the challenging circumstances he’s witnessed. One of the most difficult things for him being to hold onto the stories he’s heard as well as the realities of poverty that he’s seen around the world with the critical lens that God gives us.

South East Asia immersion team this summer gets the opportunity to to facilitate Camp Skillz (summer camp) for 28 kids. Hear from Simon Liley and his experience getting to be “Ninja Kuya” (Kuya means “brother” and is used to address older male figures) at camp.

South East Asia immersion team this summer gets the opportunity to host a weekend Leadership Bible Retreat for invited leaders from our campus & community in the Philippines, providing for them intensive times in worship, Bible study, and fellowshipping together. The hope of the time was to make known to them about God's building project, which is his children.

South East Asia immersion team this summer gets the opportunity to facilitate a SLAM week for the youth present. With the weeks theme being: ‘Reck’nize: Who you are & where you at’ pulled from Colossians 3:1-3, read Brittan Botzom’s testimony as to how God is using her team and moving in everyone there.

Blake Botzum writes from Uganda about the facilitation of a SLAM week, on the other side of a program that changed his life.

South East Asia immersion team this summer gets the opportunity to to facilitate Camp Skillz (summer camp) for 28 kids. Hear from Tresa Botzom and her personal experiences getting to witness the replication of a program that started in Nashville get effectively duplicated within the Filipino context.

Lily McDaniel reflects on her experience in Old Delhi, and the Bible that she’s learned, and how the two intersect.

Hear a testimony from Isaiah Aaseby from the 2024 summer South East Asia immersion team as he reflects on the lessons he’s learning from the Bible and experience in a third-world country. He writes; “It’s humbling to come in contact with the poor, and uncomfortable. The uncomfortability isn’t bad, in fact it can incite us to call on the Lord if we choose to.”

Join Institute for God professors Jeff Sherrod, Laurie Kagay and headmaster Gregg Garner as they discusses with Institute student; Jacob Oliveira his summer internship mission trip to Uganda, emphasizing intentional planning and transformative impact on one's relationship with God.

This week in El Salvador; the Institute’s immersion team had the opportunity to do two large events. On Friday they had a youth night full of food, games, and scripture. But on Saturday they were able to put on a one day soccer tournament.