Altus Times Correspondent

Never in his wildest dreams did Adam Miligan see himself in Rome, Italy. But for two weeks this summer, that's where he was.

"As a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) on campus, I'd spent some time working with kids in summer camps and in VBS (Vacation Bible School)," he says. "I've led devotionals for our group and have done some preaching, but I never thought I'd ever be a full-fledged missionary."

Miligan, a student at Western Oklahoma State College majoring in criminal justice, took time off to attend Falls Creek, the Baptist Church Camp at Davis, Oklahoma. There, as a counselor, he heard a team speak about having gone to Rome.

"They told about kids who give up their summers to help others," says Miligan. "While they were talking, I thought, 'What do you want me to do, God?' And something in my head said, 'Mission packs are on the table; go find one.'"

The packs contained three sites: China, Mexico, and Rome, Italy.

"I knew I wasn't supposed to go to China. I don't like Chinese food. I knew it couldn't be Mexico, because..." he paused. "I know this will sound crazy to lots of people," he said, "but that voice in my head had said I was going to be an international missionary, so I knew God wasn't sending me to Mexico -- no water to cross. The minute I picked up the packet on Rome, I knew that was where I was supposed to go."

He filled out the application and went back to school. In October 2002, the letter came from the missionary board.

"Before I opened it, I prayed, 'God, maybe I shouldn't have done this. You know I can't afford the expenses for this trip.' Before I even got the envelope open, I heard Him say, 'Don't worry. It's taken care of.'"

The letter of acceptance and welcome included the agenda and the cost for the trip. Miligan says that when he saw the total expenses, he panicked.

"I called my pastor, told him my worry, and asked him to pray with me. Before I got through with my story, he interrupted and told me the deacons had already decided the church would pay for my trip. I knew then I was supposed to go."

The trip from May 26 to June 10, included ten college students and three adult BCM sponsors. They found Rome crowded with refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and even some from New Zealand.

"Our purpose there," says Miligan, "was to build positive relationships. Many had never known Christians before, and we wanted them know that Christians are good people who care for others."

The BCM group spent their days playing games with children and with adults as well. In the afternoons, the groups split and the boys went to the park and played volleyball with whoever wanted to play. The girls went to senior citizens' centers and played bingo with adults. They also played games and did crafts with children.

"A couple of the computer guys in the group," he says, "went to the Kurdish camp and set up a typing program for them. Because Kurds are Muslims, we couldn't share the gospel with them, but we could show them that Christians loved them.

"I found out," Miligan added, "that their favorite movie is Brave Heart because that's the way they see themselves."

On the Saturdays they were there, the missionary group spent time in the park, distributing Christian literature and witnessing.

"One of the greatest lessons I learned," he says, "is that in attempting to overcome the language barrier, I became bolder and more patient in my approach to sharing the gospel. From that, I now know that God is calling me to the foreign mission field."

Currently, Miligan attends classes full time, works with his dad in the family's machine shop and has accepted an appointment in ministry in the campus BCM. Upon graduation from WOSC, he plans to attend Southwest Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth.

"When I finish the seminary, I'll head across the sea --maybe I'll get to go to Rome again. I can do that."

He may well get to go to Rome again, but that will have to wait a while. He just received word that he's been accepted for a mission to China, Dec. 12 through Jan. 1. In fact, he'll eat his Christmas dinner, celebrate his birthday and watch the New Year come in learning to like Chinese food.