Olivet Nazarene University student Gabe Meinert traveled outside the United States for the first time in the summer of 2024, joining a team leading a media camp at Nazarener Vlaardingen in the Netherlands. Known as the most technologically advanced church in Europe, the location provided an ideal setting for students to explore how media can support ministry.
Purpose of the Trip
The media camp gathered students from across Europe and the Middle East for hands-on training in photography, videography and digital communication. Meinert helped teach several photography sessions and assisted with a videography class that brought all the students together.
The church’s equipment allowed participants access to cameras and tools they rarely see in typical European congregations. Even so, Meinert was struck by how different the technological standards were from what he expected.
“In the more developed parts of Europe, you’d expect a lot of tech, but it was still fairly low-tech overall, even at the most advanced church,” Meinert said.
After the media camp in the Netherlands, the team traveled to Büsingen to film interviews with missionaries and missionary families. These stories were created to help the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene encourage others to pursue missions and highlight the benefits of raising families in a ministry context.
The team also helped build a small recording studio in Büsingen, giving local leaders space to create podcasts and digital content.
Click the video below to see a glimpse into the trip through the eyes of another member of the group, Maori Brown.
A Gathering of Cultures
The trip offered students the chance to meet peers from a range of cultural backgrounds, including individuals from the United Kingdom, India, Jordan and multiple European countries.
“One of the biggest highlights for me was meeting so many people from different countries: the UK, India, Jordan and all over Europe,” Meinert said.
Despite differences in language and political views, participants found common ground through creativity, faith and a shared passion for storytelling.
Click here to watch the Eurasia Media Camp Preview video on Facebook.
Highlights From the Week
Teaching students who did not speak English as a first language became one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. The challenge required patience, clarity and flexibility skills that strengthened Meinert’s confidence as a communicator.
He said seeing students apply what they learned in real time, including posting flyers and creating media for their churches, made the experience especially rewarding.
Lessons Learned
The trip offered more than technical training. It reshaped how Meinert views the world and his role in ministry.
“I don’t have to be afraid to step into another culture and be uncomfortable,” Meinert said. “I can minister wherever I am.”
Experiencing life and worship with believers from around the world broadened his understanding of ministry and showed him how the media can bridge cultural gaps.
Why Experiences Like This Matter
For Meinert, the experience was both eye-opening and transformative. International trips like this encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, learn in unfamiliar environments, and witness the global church’s diversity firsthand.
What began as a media project became an opportunity to build relationships, teach new skills, and carry stories across borders, a reminder of the impact one trip can have on both the storyteller and the communities they serve.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can experience a trip like this, click here: Shalom Project Mission Trips: An Overview for You
