Mennonite Brethren and Krimmer Mennonite Brethren elders together sought a home for theological and liberal arts education and Tabor College was born from that vision. Heinrich Voth, the first pastor of what was later known as Carson Mennonite Brethren Church in Delft, Minn., was a member of that group.
Even as the church closed its doors in 2005, the relationship between it and Tabor remains today, as the Carson Center for Global Engagement was named in its honor. David A. (g’60) and Paul D. (g’60) Wiebe proposed the center to the Tabor College Board of Directors and it officially opened in 2006. Students learn about becoming globally minded and skilled graduates while participating in missions and service projects.
The rich history of the congregation and its Mennonite Brethren roots provided vision for what the center has now become, emboldening the leadership provided by Craig Jost (fs’86), M.Div., the center’s director.
“At the heart of this is how much I love seeing transformed lives,” Jost said. “We want students to see the world as a much bigger place and not be overwhelmed by that, but guiding them to see what God is doing in their lives and each place they visit.”
After global trips were canceled throughout the pandemic, attendance has substantially increased, with over 30 students participating in trips to Uganda, Southeast Asia, and three separate groups in Europe.
Whether it’s academic, missional, service-based, or vocational, students are experiencing Jost’s vision of seeing them experience the church in a global context.
“Students may say they don’t see themselves as a traditional missionary,” he said. “However, we aspire for them to learn how to be missional in a cross-cultural context with the gifts God gives them.”
With trips to Indonesia, Turkey, and Peru lined up for 2026, Jost said all trips remain open to alumni.
Desiring to grow participation even further, Jost hopes that all Tabor students would consider taking at least one trip while they’re on campus.
“It’s enriching for students, staff, and/or alumni to walk into these countries and see what God has and is doing within these locations,” Jost said. “From the time missionaries arrive, you can see how He prepared the soil to bring His light into a challenging place.”