The Patriot Golf Team traveled to the United Kingdom on July 26 for an eight day mission trip to northeast England and parts of Scotland including cities such as Middlesbourgh, Stockton, Billingham, and Ayr as they participated in the fifth trip in DBU's Global Sports Mission Initiative.

Fifteen individuals including 11 members of the Patriot Golf Team and four university staff members were provided the opportunity to serve the local population by assisting an organization Youth for Christ through a sports outreach program and “Stockton Town Pastors,” at the Stockton International Riverside Festival.

“The Patriot Athletic Global Sports Mission Initiative was created to allow our student-athletes the opportunity to experience other cultures by living and serving as 'Champions for Christ' abroad, which is exactly what the DBU Golfers were able to do,” stated Ryan Erwin, DBU director of athletics, who helped organize the trip.

“We have a really special group of student-athletes here at DBU, who gave up part of their summer break to travel to the UK and share their faith in Christ as they used their God-given talents to minister and spread the Word among the people of the UK,” Erwin added.

Travels took the team through London, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland, before the three hour train ride led the team to the Tees Valley in Northern England where they were graciously greeted by their host families and members of Youth for Christ at the rail station. Student-athletes were paired together in their host homes throughout the Tees Valley at diverse locations.

Time was largely spent at city parks throughout Middlesbrough and Billingham ministering to local children of all ages through sports outreach by providing children with a safe place for sports and conversation. The group provided and participated in sports such as soccer, baseball, and golf for the children, as both the DBU Patriot Golf Team and local Tees Valley youth were educated in fundamentals, sportsmanship, and the history of each sport. By connecting to the children through sports, the DBU student-athletes were able to create many successful conversations driven by their faith, beliefs, and personal relationships with Christ. Many of the children that attended the local park events had come from broken homes in rough areas of the Tees Valley region in Northern England. For these kids to see college students, who had come half way across the world just to meet and spend time with them, lit up their faces and brightened their spirits.

“I feel as if we planted seeds through our conversations with others, our youth sports outreach, and the volunteering we did at the Stockton International Festival. I was particularly touched while running the batting cage at the sports outreach. This made me realize how much I take for granted by growing up in the church. Every time the kids would make contact you would see a burst of joy in their faces. I went into this experience with the thought that I was going to change the community, but the community changed me,” said Senior Kristen Tucker.

Along with providing sports outreach at local parks, the Patriot Golf Team was granted the opportunity to volunteer at the Stockton International Riverside Festival – an annual event that welcomes thousands of individuals, both local and international, to participate and experience theatrical shows, concerts, carnival rides, parades, and endless shopping. The Patriot Golf Team provided volunteer service to the local Stockton Town Pastors – a group who assisted the festival by providing safety for all attendees. Members of the Patriot Golf Team were given the opportunity to minister to the attendees through conversation focused on influencing God's love into the lives of lost people.

“The mission trip to England has truly been a life changing experience. Being able to talk to people about God who, in some cases, have never heard the Gospel is the best opportunity I have ever been given. To think that spending only 10 or 15 minutes talking with a person on the street could change their life and potentially lead them to salvation makes everything worth it. I will never forget all that God taught me this week,” said Freshman Justin Wileman.

After five days in the Tees Valley, the team traveled north by train, passing through Edinburgh, Scotland, and arriving in the city of Ayr on Saturday evening, which would soon be a most memorable time for the entire team. Sunday morning was spent in attendance at Ayr Community Baptist Fellowship Church. The church was planted within a small rural community of Ayr, where it was surrounded by small terrace housing. The Patriot Golf Team was able to join the small congregation in many well known worship songs along with a sermon by Pastor Alex Henderson. The congregation graciously welcomed the group and was overjoyed to see so many young people who were passionate for the Lord and willing to share their faith with others around the world.

“Coming from France I had little knowledge of the English culture. However, through my experiences I learned that they are no different than we are and God has a plan for each one of their lives. It was a wonderful experience to be able to share the Gospel with these people,” said international student-athlete Junior Nic Tacher.

Sunday afternoon was spent playing a round of golf at Turnberry Ailsa Golf Course, which is considered to be one of the most well-known and prestigious courses in the world. Turnberry stretches along the west coast of Scotland just south of Ayr and has been the home course for The British Open on four different occasions including 1977, 1986, 1994, and most recently 2009 where American Stewart Cink claimed his first Major Championship victory. Each DBU player had the opportunity to walk the very holes many historical golfers walked in years past as well as reenacting memorable shots throughout their rounds.

After a final night in Ayr, the Patriot Golf Team traveled back to Edinburgh before continuing into the city of St. Andrews, Scotland, where they were able to tour the St. Andrews Links. St. Andrews Links is a golf club that consists of seven courses including the most well known course in golf, named “The Old Course.” The team was able to tour the beautiful course grounds as well as buy souvenirs in one of the largest pro shops in the world. The Old Course at St. Andrews has been host to The British Open 28 times, including the most recent 2010 Open Championship where Louis Oosthuizen won on July 18, a mere two weeks before the Patriot Golf Team traveled to the east coast of Scotland to see the course that has been such a large influence in creating the history of golf.

“This experience has been one of the most memorable of my life. It rejuvenated my spirit and allowed me to see the Lord in mission work, the church, and His beautiful creation on the golf course as well. No amount of words could express how big the Lord is and how blessed we are by Him,” said Junior Christa Williams.

“What a great experience for the kids to be able to share God's love with people from a different country/culture that desperately need his grace. I truly believe that we planted seeds that will have a lasting impact on the people we came in contact with,” Head Coach Kenny Trapp said.