Inside Scoop on Serving & Savannah!

Youth Serving Locally

It is one of my core goals that youth are given opportunities to serve their community and their world. And it is also important that we go about doing this in a healthy, sustainable way. 

In Our Congregation

The past couple of years I have looked and prayed about ways youth could take ownership of their service. Typically churches assign menial, annoying tasks to the youth, which creates a culture of youth that detest service. 

We have seen youth step up and serve VBS (largest group of youth served this year...and LOVED it!), consistent service in Kid's Worship, and performing skits for Kid's Worship on a consistent basis. 

We have started recently incorporating elements of service in our UMYF time writing letters to shut ins and recently adopting the gardening responsibilities around the PGUMC sign. We also are planning on building some small raised beds with herbs as well. 

Where we are looking to grow... with your help

We would like more opportunities to serve locally in our community. We have done this by serving food at local non profits with little participation. If you have connections with folks that can point us in the right direction that would be great. Anything from lawn maintenance to painting. 

We would love for this service opportunity to be joint parents and youth as well. If you can take ownership of this for us that would be great! 

The Inside on Savannah!

I was very excited this past week when I received information on some of the great serving opportunities we would have in Savannah. Here are some of the awesome organizations that we will be working with...

Salvation Army: We work mostly in the warehouse helping with donations, but we also may have the opportunity to help prepare and serve lunch and help in whatever other capacity they need.

 Boys & Girls Club: We provide some much needed extra hands to the summer program that is offered at this Club. They have lots of kids that are in need of lots of love.

City of Savannah: In Savannah we have the opportunity to work with the city to do home painting for senior citizens. The city provides the projects and supplies and we provide the labor. We also hope that you are able to get to know the homeowner that you are serving.

 Second Harvest:  We will partner with Second Harvest to help them organize and hand out food.  They supply local families as well as serving as a supplier for almost every homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Savannah.  Your group will get to work with one of the main suppliers of food for the hungry in Savannah. 

Youth will typically serve one organization in the morning and then a different organization in the afternoon. It will give them diverse exposure to a lot of great organizations! 

Then at night we will have the opportunity to visit the historic district of Savannah, tour one of the oldest African-American churches in the country, go to the beach on Tybee Island, and end our week with a community cook out at a local park! 

We will be staying at Grace United Methodist Church in downtown Savannah. I can't wait! 

If you could pray alongside me. 

1. Pray for each youth this going on the mission trip

2. Pray that this would be a life changing experience for them

3. Pray that God would prepare the way for us

4. Pray that God would send some more middle school girls to go! We need more girls!!! 

Skit Performing, Plant Planting, and Jumping in the Air....Sunday was a good day!