Written by: Isabelle Hendrich, staff writer
Dayton, Tenn. – Bryan College announced last week on March 6 that the international Break for Change trips were cancelled due to the coronavirus. On Wed., March 11 the two domestic Break for Change trips to Opelousas, La. and Houston, Texas were also cancelled.
In fact, all co-curricular programs that include travel, such as athletic events, the spring break chorale tour, and all of the spring break BFC trips have been cancelled due to the coronavirus. Even the summer mission trips at this point are uncertain. All spring athletics have even been suspended for this season.
The three international Break for Change trips were going to go to Costa Rica, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. These trips, along with Opelousas, will hopefully be rescheduled for this summer or next spring break. Houston will be rescheduled for next year’s 2021 spring break.
While this may be disappointing to many students, Bryan has moved classes online for a week and canceled the spring break trips and athletics to limit covid-19 exposure. The administration cares deeply about Bryan students and wants the best for their education and safety, which is why they have taken these drastic measures in this unprecedented time.
“It is my prayer that these special precautions will enable this virus to pass quickly and that students will be able to return soon to school and resume life on campus,” Livesay said. “As always, you will continue to be in my daily prayers.”
Although most students have been upset at the domestic BFC trips being cancelled, Houston was not initially canceled by Bryan College. It would have been suspended by the college eventually, but since the team was going to stay in church homes, the church did not want anyone of their members or the team to infect one another.
Atlough the danger that the coronavirus presents is a serious concern, our safety and the safety of others was a priority, leading to the administration of Bryan College making the difficult decision to cancel all of the mission trips part of Break for Change.
Despite Bryan delaying the trips, ultimately Bryan students should trust in God and know that He is always in control.
For 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (ESV).
Isabelle Hendrich is a communications studies major and missions minor at Bryan College. She is on the cross-country team. Besides running, Isabelle also likes to read and do crafts. She is also a triplet whose siblings, Benjamin and Savannah, are also attending Bryan College.
