Next Generation Missionaries
The Bethel and World Partners Alignment Series
Jeremy and Mindie as students at Bethel in 2000
Part 1 — Team Tice: From Bethel to the World (and Back Again)
By the time Jeremy and Mindie Tice graduated from Bethel College (now Bethel University) in 2000, they had become deeply convicted about their missionary call.
In fact, some of Jeremy’s professors had previously prevented him from quitting school to start engaging the unreached indigenous tribe in Venezuela he longed to serve. But in the end, he and Mindie both completed their degrees, got married, and joined the World Partners team of missionaries.
Instead of Venezuela, however, the Lord led them on an amazing journey as career missionaries to live and bear witness with their growing family in unexpected places, namely, Guinea, Senegal, France, and Germany. But perhaps the most unexpected place the Lord would call them to serve came in 2023 — Mishawaka, Indiana.
With the pending retirement of Bill and Debbie Jones, World Partners Missionaries in Residence at Bethel University, World Partners leaders were earnestly praying about the next era at Bethel. They sensed the Tices might be part of the Lord’s answer.
In late 2022, the World Partners leaders asked the Tices to pray about returning. At first the veteran missionaries, who always saw themselves serving abroad, were not inclined. But after several months of prayer, the Lord clarified the call. Once again, Jeremy and Mindie surrendered their own notions of how, where, and to whom their calling would unfold.
In July 2023, they sold their belongings (again) and returned from Germany to the place where their missionary call first crystalized. Now, just one year later, over 25 Bethel students with varying degrees of mission interest are actively exploring their own missionary call under the wise and loving covering of Jeremy and Mindie Tice.
“At first, we expected to really have to push global mission engagement with students,” says Jeremy, “but we soon discovered the Lord was already at work — it’s crazy how many students are sensing a call.”
As a result, the Tices are personally shepherding these students and helping their missionary calls to crystallize at Bethel, also. In so doing, they are partnering with Bethel professors and administration to raise up the next generation of missionaries the Lord is calling into a new era of global mission.
The Tices ran the cotton candy booth at the midnight carnival before finals week 2024
In this series, we’ll explore the robust missional alignment between the Missionary Church/World Partners and Bethel University. Be encouraged by the fruit our shared purpose in Christ is producing to glorify Jesus. Look for future editions in this 3-part Bethel and World Partners Alignment Series.