Former MCH Student Missionary Leaves a Mark on the World
“Mission Centers of Houston filled my backpack with the skills I needed for future mission trips …”
Christa Bosenberg came to Mission Centers of Houston as 20 year-old college student from Florida State University with an interest in missions but left with much more than she ever imagined … a changed life, worldview and deeper calling to the Mission of Christ in the world.
Christa’s call to missions began her senior year of high school when she volunteered to be a children’s counselor for a Billy Graham Crusade in New York City. As the group did street promotion for the Crusade, Christa encountered a new world, the world of the homeless and those living in poverty. She says that it “opened my eyes to the need in the world”. What Christa did not know was that this experience was just the beginning and over the next few years Christa would develop an even deeper love for Christ and His children.
After her freshman year in college, Christa found herself in Peru on a mission trip. This event further enforced God’s Mission for her life. Sensing a call to continue doing missions, Christa applied to go as a summer missionary to Alabama for the summer following her sophomore year. However, she didn’t feel a peace about the trip and began talking with a friend who encouraged her to consider summer missions through the North American Mission Board. When she looked at the list of opportunities, she narrowed down her decision to 3 places, one of which was Houston, Texas.
Christa says that Mission Centers of Houston seemed like the right “fit” for her because the opportunities included teaching E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) and she was drawn. She came to Houston during the summer of 2007 and was assigned to work at Joy Fellowship Center, one of the sites of Mission Centers of Houston. Christa describes her summer at MCH as an opportunity to teach her a different worldview. She says it taught her things she didn’t know she needed to learn. Christ also said, “MCH gave me the information I needed and equipped me to fill my backpack with skills I needed for future mission trips.”
Intentionality is a theme that has been embedded in Christa’s heart since coming to MCH. Christa remembers opportunities for missions that happened outside of her regular work “schedule”. These opportunities included sharing leftover food to a neighborhood family. As a result, this family began bringing their children to MCH’s after-school Kids’ Clubs.
Christa has recently graduated from Florida State University and is pursuing a Masters degree. She has continued to pursue a life of missions by working with international students on her campus and participating in a mission trip to Egypt. Christa has seen many sides of ministry and is still carrying her “backpack” in hopes of having it filled each day with new insights and tools to be an effective follower of Christ. Through MCH’s partnership with Christa Bosenberg, we are making a Global Footprint on our world.
