BU@WP: Serbia – Building Bridges for the Next Generation of Disciple Makers
Bethel University extension studies (BU-X) are offered in several locations across the United States. BU-X is a combination of accelerated, on-site, and online courses. World Partners is excited to announce a new partnership with Bethel University and our global staff in Serbia (BU@WP: Serbia) to produce Christ-centered graduates around the world!
Our global staff, Peter and Ursula, have been serving in Serbia for two years and are excited to be a part of this new partnership. We sat down with them to learn more about how BU@WP: Serbia will influence the ministry there.
World Partners staff Pete and Ursula
WP: How did the idea for this partnership begin?
Pete and Ursula: The idea really started when we were introduced to SHARE Education Services at a family education conference we attend every March. After our youngest graduated in 2021, and with the full support of World Partners, we joined the SHARE Education Services teen team. The organization had such a positive impact on our own kids that we wanted to find a way to give back.
In that role, we quickly realized that the challenges our own kids face were actually quite common among Third Culture Kids (TCKs). These included the big decisions about their futures—whether it’s university, work, or both—but also the even more daunting challenge of transitioning to a new culture, especially in the US. For many TCKs, this transition is overwhelming. We started to notice that more and more TCKs were seeking out gap year opportunities to help them prepare for that shift.
That’s when the idea really began to take shape: What if we could support graduating TCKs in a more holistic way? We started dreaming about what that could look like and decided to reach out to Jeremy and Mindie Tice, who were former RSCs of ours and are currently World Partners missionaries and directors of the World Partners Global Engagement Office (GEO) at Bethel University. It was during this conversation that we first heard about BU-X, something we hadn’t come across before. From there, everything started falling into place, and this partnership has grown organically from those initial brainstorming sessions.
WP: Can you describe “Third Culture Kids?”
Pete and Ursula:: A Third Culture Kid, or TCK, is a term often used to describe children who hold a passport from one country but grow up in another. Because of this, they don’t fully “fit in” with the culture of either country, which creates a unique experience where they live in their own “third culture.” While this term is commonly associated with missionary kids, it also applies to children from military, diplomatic, immigrant, and multi-cultural families. Essentially, TCKs have the experience of navigating multiple cultures, but without feeling completely at home in any one of them.
WP: How do you envision BU@WP: Serbia helping the next generation of disciple makers?
Pete and Ursula: We envision BU@WP: Serbia addressing three key needs.
First, it offers TCKs an alternative first step—a space where they can experience independence and community with others who truly understand their unique challenges, all without being oceans apart from their families.
Second, students will begin university studies that are accredited and potentially transferable, should they decide to continue their education in the US, at Bethel, or elsewhere.
Third, we realize that 18-22 years old is such a pivotal time in a person’s life, and it’s often a season where faith is wrestled with and shaped. We coupled that knowledge with the opportunity of every BU-X site to develop a practicum, and we’re excited to offer a discipleship practicum as part of our Serbia site.
The discipleship practicum is designed to move beyond just classroom theory—it’s about real-world application in our community. The young people in our city are incredibly open and most speak English, which makes it all possible. Ultimately, we want our students to grasp the idea that discipleship isn’t just something they do; it’s who they are. Whatever their future holds, we hope they’ll leave BU@WP: Serbia confident in their identity in Christ and deeply compassionate toward those around them.
WP: Are there others on your team?
Pete and Ursula: Yes, we’re fortunate to have local support from Zoli and Tanja Vegel, who are associate staff with World Partners. Zoli is the pastor of a church in the city of Sombor, and both he and Tanja will be helping us as we develop this new ministry. Their involvement is crucial because it shows we have the support and buy-in of local ministry leaders, which is really important to us.
World Partners affiliates Zoli & Tanja
In addition, Zoli and Tanja have experience facilitating visiting teams of young people. So, while the BU@WP: Serbia site is a bit different from what they’ve done before, they’ve seen firsthand the positive impact these kinds of initiatives can have. They’re excited about the potential for BU@WP: Serbia in Sombor and understand the long-term benefits it can bring.
SHARE has also been very supportive and has helped opened the doors for us to introduce BU@WP: Serbia to TCK families across the globe.
WP: What are some of the long-term goals for BU@WP: Serbia?
Pete and Ursula: One of our long-term goals for BU@WP: Serbia is to help develop the next generation of global workers. We see this initiative as an opportunity to train and equip disciple makers who can go on to serve in the country where they grew up or to other countries where the Lord can use them.
In the future, we also hope to expand this vision with extension opportunities in other countries, allowing more students to access this kind of education. The goal is to create a network of global leaders who are equipped not only academically but also spiritually, ready to make an impact wherever they go.
WP: What are some of the needs you have in this ministry?
Pete and Ursula: We’d really appreciate prayers for clear direction as we move forward with this launch. We’re praying that everyone involved will hear clearly from the Lord. As we reach out to students and their families, we want our communication to be clear so the right students will feel led to join us.
A future need will be funding to furnish and equip apartments for the students. They’ll be living in small, probably unfinished spaces, so we need to provide essentials like beds, desks, tables, and kitchenware. They’ll bring their own linens, just as they would if living on a campus, but we’ll need to make sure the apartments are set up for a comfortable living situation.
Contact us if you have any questions or would like more information: info@wpartners.org
Jordan Dillon, Director of Strategic Partnerships | BU-X: jordan.dillon@betheluniversity.edu
Other resources:
SHARE Education Services
https://www.shareeducation.org/
Bethel University Extensions Studies
https://betheluniversity.edu/academics/extension-studies-bu-x/