Wheaton College: Wheaton, Illinois: Alumni

Fifty years ago, fresh from a missionary experience in the jungles of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Ron Chase '56 challenged Wheaton College students with a vision for an overseas service project. His challenge produced the Student Missionary Project: a student-initiated, student-operated program based in the Office of Christian Outreach at Wheaton. The project selects, prepares, supports, and sends students to serve God around the world under various mission boards during the summer. SMP became an annual project and has since sent more than one thousand students to serve in missions. In celebration of the 50th anniversary, here is the story of Alex Wilson '59, one of the first team members.

It seems impossible that 50 years have flown by since the Student Missionary Project was launched. The Lord graciously let me be included in that first team of twelve who were sent to Central America for about 8 weeks.

Herbert Peaslee and his wife Marian were my hosts/mentors, along with their daughter Martha. The parents had ministered in Honduras, mainly the city of Choluteca, for 40 years.

Their mission had established a good number of congregations and trained many Honduran evangelists. But since their mission (CAM) sought to follow indigenous methods, including local support for Honduran workers, they lost quite a few of such workers to some other U.S. missions who came later and offered higher pay.

I was privileged to help in some practical ways, such as addressing envelopes for newsletters, and painting their car. I observed a few open-air gospel proclamations and sometimes spoke briefly to church youth groups via interpreter. But the highlight of my time there was traveling with Mr. Peaslee and a Honduran evangelist for almost a week or more.

By mule we visited a number of remote churches and isolated families in the lofty mountains. The believers' faith and love were impressive.

Before going on the SMP, the Lord had already led me to believe He probably wanted me to engage in cross-cultural ministry. The summer in Honduras (and also being active in Foreign Missions Fellowship at Wheaton) helped confirm that call.

Later He led my wife and me to minister in Manila for 20 years ('63-83). I am grateful for the part that Wheaton played in my life, and for the way that the SMP keeps on impacting lives for Christ's kingdom.

Alex Wilson '59 (from the 1959 Tower)

(left to right) Herbert Peaslee and Alex Wilson in Honduras, 1958

"...the Lord had already led me to believe He probably wanted me to engage in cross-cultural ministry. The summer in Honduras (and also being active in Foreign Missions Fellowship at Wheaton) helped confirm that call."