One of my favorite weeks of the year is when I get the opportunity to join our student ministry, The Attic, on their summer mission trip. We work with an amazing organization called Mission Serve that specializes in facilitating mission projects designed to engage and equip students, grades six through twelve, for the work of ministry both in word and deed. We provide some basic training on how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ before sending the students out into the community. We send them to various homes, community agencies, and churches to paint, remove, repair, and replace roofs, build handicap accessible ramps, and other projects that improve the quality of life of the residents and allow agencies and churches to better serve the community. Students get a wealth of on-the-job training on how to safely and effectively use a variety of tools, how to properly do home improvement projects, and how to compassionately and graciously serve those in need.
While there are always a few who can’t keep from complaining, most lock in and serve the Lord and the community with gladness. It is incredibly encouraging to see the quality of “kids these days” and to serve alongside them.
Students and adult volunteers alike often say that Mission Serve is their favorite part of the summer, which is very interesting. It doesn’t fit the narrative that is often presented concerning the youth today. These participants pay to travel to a community, sleep on air mattresses and cots in school or church classrooms, and to work for 8 hours a day in whatever weather the good Lord sends them. In most cases, that weather includes heavy doses of heat and humidity, with occasional rain. While there are always a few who can’t keep from complaining, most lock in and serve the Lord and the community with gladness. It is incredibly encouraging to see the quality of “kids these days” and to serve alongside them.
Often, students are exposed, many for the first time, to the realities of abject, oppressive poverty. During our recent trip to Jasper, TN, that was absolutely the case. One of our teams was sent to do some deep cleaning and “varmint proof” a house by closing up some holes in the walls and floors. A grandmother was renting the house and lived there with four of her great grandchildren, whom she was raising. She had lived in the house for 7 years and raised some of her children and grandchildren in the home. The condition of the home was tragic and inhumane, but it was all this grandmother could afford and the landlord refused to make repairs.
After surveying the home on the first day of the project, it was determined that the scope of the work was beyond the available abilities and resources. But, one of our adult leaders from FBC Seymour lobbied to take his team back for one day to do a deep clean of the place. He and his team of students absolutely transformed the house with their hard work (and not a small amount of bleach). Leadership went to check out the progress and determined that we might be able to do more than we thought. Long story short, in the course of 3 and a half days, two dozen teenagers, under the guidance of a few skilled adults, replaced all of the sub-flooring throughout the entire house, laid down new laminate on top of that, repaired all of the holes in the walls, replaced any damaged furniture, and refitted the bathroom. Their sacrificial service made a fundamental difference in the quality of life of that grandmother and her grandchildren.
We can only love our neighbors when we open our eyes to see their need, open our hearts to share their struggle, and offer our hands in meaningful service.
The goal of Mission Serve is not just about the work that is done for one week of the summer. Our purpose is not only to rehab a few homes in a foreign context. Our hope is that what is experienced out in the world would be brought home and applied in our own communities. Having done quite a bit of work with the Alley, Anchor House, and the United Way, I can say with all certainty that there are homes like the one we worked on in Jasper, TN right here in Seymour, IN. Within a short 5 minute walk from the campus of FBC, we can find families in need of a loving, helping hand up. We can only love our neighbors when we open our eyes to see their need, open our hearts to share their struggle, and offer our hands in meaningful service. I’ve seen what God can do with a few days, a few dollars, and a few teenagers and adults. I can’t help but wonder what He could do through our whole church or, better yet, multiple churches in our own community. Let’s go serve and see what good God can do in and through us!
