May 3, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY, TN-- After making a difference on the field, Jessie Howard wants to help change the world. In June, the freshman third baseman for the Lady Eagle softball team will travel to Kollo, Niger for mission work in one of the poorest nations in Africa.

Jessie made an immediate impact with the Lady Eagles in 2007, helping the team compile a 34-14 record. She led the team in batting average and steals to earn All-South Atlantic Conference first team honors. Jessie came to Carson-Newman not only to be part of a proud softball tradition, but to live out her faith in Jesus Christ.

"I wanted a campus where I could get involved in many extracurricular activities and have professors that are spiritually mature mentors and teach me more about the Bible. Carson-Newman is the perfect fit for me," she said.

As a member of Faith Promise Church in Knoxville, Jessie learned the importance and impact of world missions. After applying to be one of eight students for missions with the International Missions Board, Jessie prayed she would be accepted for work in Africa.

"I was studying the Bible during my devotional time and as I prayed, I believe God gave me a peace about this decision and impressed upon me that I should go on this trip," Howard said.

Niger, a North African nation of 13 million people, has 63% of its people living below the poverty line. About 3.6 million people in Niger suffer from malnutrition, leaving close to 800,000 children either without food or a proper diet. Through her work with an IMB missionary, Jessie hopes to spread the Gospel message to a country in dire need of physical and spiritual transformation.

"I'm very excited about meeting the missionary and my mission team in Niger," Jessie said. "We will be doing street evangelism, prayer walking, and a children's sports ministry. It's my prayer that through this mission trip God will enable me to grow in my faith and continue in my personal journey of missions to a needy world."

Jessie is close to her fundraising goal for her mission trip, but is also soliciting her family, friends, and peers for prayer as she prepares for this life-changing task.

"The most important thing I ask people to do is pray," Howard said. "Coach Hollifield and Coach Branim have been very supportive of me through their prayers and the Lord has put many people in my life that have been a great encouragement to me and are committed to pray."

Whether leading off in the batting order or leading a student missions team, Jessie Howard knows that her faith in Jesus Christ sustains her in every situation.

"It has been a full year," Howard said. "I continue to pray that God takes care of it all. I can only do it all by His grace."