ABOUT
Students Living A Mission
Who We Are
The SLAM (Students Living A Mission) program began in 2001 as an initiative by GOD International to engage young people in hands-on mission work, rooted in biblical service and social justice. Since its inception, SLAM has provided youth with immersive experiences that connect them to global needs through service projects, spiritual growth, and cross-cultural learning. Focused on empowering the next generation, the program offers week-long mission trips where students not only serve communities but also deepen their understanding of God's call to justice and compassion. SLAM has impacted thousands of students, challenging them to live missionally both locally and globally.
Our Team
Name.
Gregg Garner
Job Title.
Worship Leader, Bible Teacher, Vision & Direction
Gregg founded Students Living A Mission in 2001 after relocating from Southern California to Nashville, TN as the premier youth program of Global Outreach Developments (GOD) International. After years of being a youth pastor, Gregg designed SLAM to foster young people’s relationship with Jesus by imitating his service to those in need. Gregg has played many roles for SLAM throughout the years, from leading worship to recruiting groups to teaching God’s Word to making funny videos to help young people understand a biblical theme. Overall, Gregg gives the program vision and direction while still serving youth.
Name.
Mitch Buchanan
Job Title.
SLAM Cheerleader, Videographer & Late Nites Creator
Mitch was himself a “SLAM kid.” Hailing from Knoxville, TN, he was a SLAM junkie, attending SLAM weeks in Nashville, Morristown, Daytona Beach, and Hometown SLAMs in Ohio, and joining the GOD Summer Internship to East Africa. Mitch might be the biggest SLAM fan you’ve met, and is always around to make sure kids are having a good time and push them a little bit outside of their comfort zone. He’s also part of the video crew that documents and showcases every week, highlighting kids’ diverse personalities, inside jokes, and moments meeting the Lord!
Name.
Kevin Andrews
Job Title.
SLAM Veteran, Recruiter & SLAM Week Point of Contact
As a youth pastor from Carmel, IN, Kevin found SLAM and saw the way God used the program to transform kids’ lives and help them meet with Jesus in a deeper way. After bringing student teams to SLAM for a decade, Kevin moved his family to Nashville and joined the team! Kevin serves with heart and may do anything from driving the bus to gathering supplies to make sure all the kids are having a great time! He is our main recruiter for SLAM and will get you hyped and ready for an awesome SLAM experience!
Name.
Derek Bargatze
Job Title.
SLAM Speaker
Derek Bargatze is one of our featured speakers at SLAM and was himself a “SLAM kid” and summer intern with Global Outreach Developments. A husband, father, and elementary vice principal, and development worker, Derek understands how to connect young people with the truth of Scripture with sincerity and humor. You’ll catch him speaking, emceeing, or behind the scenes coordinating our staff and praying for your team
Name.
Jeff Sherrod
Job Title.
SLAM Speaker, Service Projects & Focus Group Coordinator
In the academic year, Jeff serves as Academic Dean at The Institute for GOD, a Bible and missions college in Nashville, TN. But in the summer, Jeff loves SLAM. He loves watching youth connect with Jesus, gain an awareness of a bigger world in need, and make friends in the process. You’ll see Jeff as one of our emcees, a featured speaker, a ministry project coordinator, or a focus group coordinator.
Name.
Corey Foster
Job Title.
Service Project Coordinator & SLAM Super Servant
Corey is a servant of all, utilizing her skills in design, tech, and logistics to help the SLAM weeks run smoothly. In the school year, Corey serves as the Headmaster of The Academy for GOD, and has a deep conviction to see kids receive excellent biblical education that is also creative, tactile, unique, and effective. Corey utilizes her logistical skills to mastermind all of your SLAM forms, coordinate service projects, run AV, and whatever else is needed.
Name.
Alex Castro
Job Title.
Service Week Point of Contact
Alongside Kevin, Alex will be someone groups know well and see often, keeping an eye on campus safety, project supplies, and any other needs that come up with youth groups. As a K-12 principal, Alex is well acquainted with many moving parts and we’re happy to have him on our team.
Name.
Nate Cameron
Job Title.
AV Lead & SLAM Super Servant
A “SLAM Kid” and also a pastor’s kid, Nate is often the first one to show up and the last one to leave, making sure all of our audio-visual items are in place and running smoothly, minimizing distractions so that your youth group can meet with Jesus without distraction.
Name.
Jen Nyago
Job Title.
Hospitality Queen
Whether you see Jen or not, you’ll still be served by her somehow. By ensuring our spaces include meaningful, missional touches and that food is carefully accounted for and considered, Jen serves teams on all the hospitality fronts, and prays for you faithfully behind the scenes.
You're Probably Wondering
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What are the lodging accommodations?SLAM partners with local churches and schools to provide space for sleeping, showers, and team time with your group. A typical week includes sleeping in a classroom on the sleeping bags and padding that you bring and taking showers in private stalls. Your students will be under the supervision of your own adult chaperones but may share space with students and chaperones of other groups.
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What is the expected student to leader ratio?SLAM would suggest a 7:1 ratio of students to adults (21+). Mixed gender groups require both a male and female adult regardless of group size. Reach out if you have specific questions about your group dynamic.
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Are all SLAM staff background checked?Yes. SLAM staff have all undergone background checks.
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What is the denominational or theological background of Students Living a Mission?SLAM is an interdenominational ministry with leaders and participants from a wide range of Christian backgrounds and ethnic origins. We focus on teaching the significance of serving like Jesus as modeling in his life and taught throughout the canon of Scripture. Our goal is to reinforce the expectation that followers of Jesus are engaged in serving practically as a part of bringing God’s kingdom to earth. It is not our intention to teach on topics that have been historically divisive but to pursue the unity that Jesus prayed for his disciples to experience as we work together as his body and share his mind. We have worked with groups including: Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Nazarene, Wesleyan, Christian, Non-Denominational, and more.
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What meals does SLAM provide?During a typical week, SLAM provides all meals Tuesday though Friday (12 total). Your group will be responsible for meals during travel (including dinner before check-in on Monday) as well as breakfast as you depart on Saturday morning. Customization can be made for unique travel schedules with advanced planning. Breakfasts are often a breakfast burrito or sandwich with fruit, sack lunches are packed for flexibility regardless of the type of work project, and most evening meals have an ethnic element as part of our value to create global awareness in the midst of a domestic experience.
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Can SLAM accommodate dietary restrictions?Yes, we have worked with students with all of the major categories of food allergies. If you have students with highly sensitive and life-threatening reactions, please bring up those needs early in the registration process so we determine the best way forward to serve you well.
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Is there anything more about SLAM we should know to understand the work that we are participating in?Yes, thanks for asking! SLAM is a program of Global Outreach Developments International (www.godintl.org) and largely facilitated by alumni and students of The Institute for GOD (www.instituteforgod.edu). Our heart is to educate people in God’s Word and equip and empower them with practical skills that will be used to bring the abundant life and hope that Jesus came to offer and called his disciples to work toward. Students Living a Mission is just one of dozens of our programs with this goal in mind. If you’d like to learn more about our other programs and efforts, we are always excited to share more.
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What kinds of service projects will be doing? When will we find out the specifics?SLAM is committed to meeting practical needs and fostering relationships with those who receive our service whenever possible. We are engaged in ministry with immigrant and refugee families, widows and the elderly, as well as children. SLAM also partners with local organizations who are meeting needs related to food-insecurity, homelessness, medical access, and more. Our pre-trip process is designed to understand the demographic and skill set of your team and match it with the needs that exist during your stay. Because of the fluid nature of this kind of grassroots work, you may only get details within a few weeks before arrival and they may change once you arrive. In everything, we encourage an attitude of flexibility because ministry should be responsive to the people we are here to serve rather than to fit our agenda for what we want to do.
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Will our group always be together for service projects?Though we love when teams can have a shared experience on a single project, many projects can only actively engage 6-12 team members at a time. In cases where your team is larger than a project can accommodate, we will divide your students and chaperones up so that you will be more effective at meeting needs and giving your students practical ministry opportunities. Apart from rare project specific age-restrictions, we give you the flexibility to choose how to divide your team for optimal teamwork and supervision.
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Will we be on the same project all week?We love giving students the change to explore their passions and gifts in a variety of ministry contexts. Many groups rotate between a variety of projects during their SLAM week Groups who choose to facilitate a kids camp will do for the full week with some flexibility to rotate personnel if your team is large enough to have other projects assigned as well. These camps are highly relational and therefore most effective when your team commits to a consistent presence throughout your experience.
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Will we be the only group or serve with other teams?Though we can customize a trip for a specific team, most often we partner with several churches/groups who share the SLAM experience together. Your students will see a broader picture of the body of Christ as they worship, work, and laugh alongside others from other locations and backgrounds. Your team will stay together for service projects, meals, and lodging (only split based on capacity) and you will have time each afternoon to use as needed for your team dynamics.