“Greater Things” Thursday #28 : Youth Mission Trip

Lebanon Road’s 2011 theme is “Greater Things.” For an introduction and video to the theme, click here. Each Thursday, we are highlighting a different area in which we are striving for greater things.

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Each Summer, our youth minister, one of our elders, and our summer intern work out the details on a mission trip for our young people. They usually go late in July, as the final “big” event before school starts back. This year, our group leaves this Saturday, and will return in the middle of next week.

One of the things that makes our mission trips unique is that our group always visits and works with one of the congregations we help support in the United States. They have been to Pearlington, Mississippi; Forrest City, North Carolina; and Winder, Georgia (among other locations) in recent years. This year, the group of 18 is headed to Kingsport, Tennessee.

At these locations, they do different things. Almost always, they conduct a Vacation Bible School, along with members of the local congregation, as a way to reach out to the community. The VBS is “tailored” to what the congregation wants, with some being all-day Saturday, and others being several evenings.

Also on the trip, the young people nearly always are involved in physical work around the building and community. It is amazing to see the amount of work these young people do in just a few days. (One year they landscaped around the entire church building, in addition to other physical labor!)

Almost always, they are further involved in some type of door-knocking. Sometimes, this is to advertise the VBS or Gospel Meeting, while at other times, it is general information about the congregation. These young people, and the adults who go with them, work very hard and deserve our respect and thanks for what they do.

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For “Greater Things” to occur, I think two things need to be in place. First, we need more to attend each year. We have a great group (18) going this year, but there is always room for more. This is a fantastic opportunity for all who attend to grow and to put their faith into action.

Second, we who are still here need to spend earnest time in prayer for the trip and for positive results from it. Pray for safety, but also that fruit to be borne from the efforts of each one working.