Two young adults from USMB churches have received Impact Awards from Multiply, the North American MB global mission agency. Recipients Natalie Hamilton, Bethel MB Church in Yale, S.D., and Sarah Hanson, Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kan., have been sent to their college campuses as missionaries.
The Impact Award program began in Canada in 2021, thanks to a generous donor who desired to see churches send their young people into ministry settings at college. The initiative provides $2,000 in funding to churches, intended as a stipend for students for campus ministry activity during their first year at college. This support encourages students to engage in discipleship and evangelism, fostering spiritual growth within academic communities.
Hamilton and Hanson exemplify the program’s mission.
Hamilton is a freshman at the University of Sioux Falls, where she is actively involved in campus ministry with InterVarsity by attending weekly Bible studies and worship nights led by students on campus.
Reflecting on her experience so far, Hamilton says, “I have appreciated the fact that although USF is a Christian university, not everyone is a Christian, which gives me an opportunity to show Jesus’ love to people who have never known it before while also having a Christian community backing me up. God has blessed me with a good group of friends at the university, and I am so thankful for that.”
Meanwhile, Hanson is attending Hesston (Kan.) College and has used the award to attend a missionary home church that is heavily involved with the community and service projects.
She says about a Bible class she’s taking: “It has been great because now I know the Bible so much more than before and am even more confident in my ability to share the gospel and what the Bible means.”
Youth leaders who have mentored these students also recognize the program’s value.
“This award not only helps students with some financial assistance, but more importantly by helping them get connected with campus ministries and have clear steps to serve and learn ministry skills,” says Sebastian Mireles, youth pastor at Bethesda Church in Huron, S.D., where Hamilton attended Sunday evening activities. “The local church also benefits by having a clear way to not just have a student leave for college, but rather to send that student to the mission field of that college. This helps the church with knowing how to support and lift that student up in prayer.”
From a mission mobilization perspective, Multiply East of the Rockies leader Stephen Humber emphasizes the program’s broader impact: “The Impact Award not only supports individual students but also strengthens the relationship between local churches and the student they have sent to the campus. It’s a vital investment in the next generation of Christian leaders.”
By investing in young adults through the Impact Award, Multiply and USMB seek to inspire, equip and encourage the body of Christ to multiply healthy disciples and churches, fostering spiritual growth and community engagement across multiple campuses.
Churches and youth leaders interested in sending a student missionary to a university campus may apply for the Fall 2025 semester before the June 30 deadline. Early applications are encouraged to ensure timely processing and support for prospective student missionaries. Detailed information about the application process and eligibility criteria can be found at www.multiply.net/impact-award
Stephen Humber serves as mission mobilizer with Multiply’s Midwest U.S. team. He lives in Denver, Colorado wiith his wife, Mary K.
