HistoryManagers on a Mission was established by four former student managers in May, 2013, just months after establishing their weekly bible study in Minneapolis, MN. The group has been blessed with an array of athletics and professional experiences. Throughout their Bible Study meetings, this group experienced the Lord move in amazing ways, and turn the MOAM dream into reality.
The Vision The MOAM vision was originally drafted by Drew Boe after he returned home from his first mission trip to Rwanda. Drew was also surrounded by incredible mentors during this time while he was working with the VT Football program and completing his Master’s Degree. It was throughout this time that Drew began developing the MOAM framework with his Nonprofit and NGO Management Advisors. His time in Rwanda allowed him to catch a small glimpse of all that is occurring in Africa and the amazing works God is completing through missionaries. Drew was blessed with the opportunity to work at an orphanage with only a small fraction of the millions of orphaned children throughout Africa. The Future MOAM believes these struggling children are the future of Africa just as student managers are the future of sport. This is why MOAM is committed to utilizing the best servant leaders in sport, student managers, to provide support to those in need. The Mission Power Drew’s experience allowed him to realize how a mission trip allows individuals to put life into a new perspective as they witness how hard-working, joyful, and loving the African people are despite the struggles and harsh living conditions they endure on a daily basis. It was a life changing experience for him to witness first-hand how God has truly utilized missionaries to cultivate the minds and hearts of orphans to passionately love God and their neighbor. Andrew found these children who appeared to have “so little” in worldly standards, to be the most fulfilled and joyful children he has ever met. Residing in Africa, if only for a short period requires a dramatic adjustment of perspective for Americans, to realize the fulfilling lives these individuals appear to live even though they are without so many items that Americans often believe are necessities for happiness, such as wealth, television, internet, or even electricity. Additionally, these citizens currently live among the highest child mortality rates, the lowest literacy and numeracy rates, and the lowest life expectancy rates in the world (Rafiki, n.d.). MOAM strives to provide program participants multiple opportunities to reflect on what they understand happiness to mean in light of the fact that so many of Africa’s extremely poor citizens are nonetheless also persistently joyful. This experience generates positive impacts for all of those involved. Barbara Wall, Special Assistant to the President for Mission Effectiveness at Villanova, reflected on the transformation they witnessed among their students engaging in missionary trips. She explains, “They learned a great deal about themselves through contact with people from economically, culturally, socially and racially diverse communities. The extended time periods in a diverse cultural context stretches our students in many ways, especially in reflection on faith and justice.” (Villanova University, 2005). |