Circleville, OH - Ohio Christian University volleyball player Hannah Skaggs recently appeared on the NCCAA's King Chasing Podcast to discuss her mission trip to Uganda and the lessons God taught her while serving others.
Skaggs was able to travel and work with Sufficiency of Scriptures (SOS) Ministries, which serves communities in Uganda through church planting, education, healthcare, and pastoral training. The vision of SOS Ministries is to see Jesus Christ reigning through His Word in the hearts of all people. During the trip, the team partnered with Joni and Friends' Wheels for the World ministry and helped organize wheelchairs and parts that would later be customized and distributed to individuals with disabilities.
The team also delivered school supplies and served families throughout the community, including at a Luke 14 outreach event focused on caring for children with disabilities and sharing the hope of the Gospel.
Reflecting on this experience, Skaggs emphasized the importance of meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
"Luke 14 talks about the Great Banquet and future hope. They don't have that future hope," Skaggs said. "If you're not a believer, this is your best life. But if you are a believer, you have a future hope that you can look forward to. One of the things that encouraged me to do is to go extend that invitation. Care for the physical needs of people, but care for their spiritual needs. Extend the invitation and get them plugged in with a local church."
Beyond ministry opportunities, Skaggs was impacted by the culture she encountered in Uganda. She described the people as welcoming and intentional, living at a pace that allowed them to invest deeply in relationships and serve those around them whenever needs arose.
The experience also reminded her of God's sovereignty as she watched a unique team that God put together use their individual skills and gifts to serve together throughout the trip. From ministry opportunities to witnessing God's creation on a safari, Skaggs said the trip continuously pointed back to His sovereignty.
As she returns to campus, Skaggs hopes to apply what she learned by encouraging others to become involved in local churches and community outreach. Inspired by SOS ministries, she hopes to continue living with an eternal perspective while helping others experience the hope found in Christ.
The full episode of the NCCAA's King Chasing Podcast featuring Hannah Skaggs is available at the link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcxYltV7M9s&t=252s
