by Nathan Stanley
Southeast Christian Church encourages and challenges youth to be examples in our community of Christ’s love for us. Thank you to the congregation for their continuing support in helping us achieve our mission as we share the Word of God with others around us.
Our students are very busy and active within the church both in their owns studies on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, and in helping with morning services, music, teaching toddlers, and taking part in work days at the church.
Currently the teens are working through the Old Testament examining how God shaped his people to be a light to all nations. Our Wednesday night youth groups they are studying A Case For Faith by Lee Strobel. Many times in our life doubt gets in the way of our relationship to God. Strobel helps us examine the difficult questions and strengthens our faith by removing the doubts.
Our youth are also preparing themselves for their 2008 mission “trip,” this year staying close to home as they work in the community with inner city youth. They would appreciate your prayers that their work would be encouraging and uplifting.
| Junior High 6th-8th grade | Senior High 9th-12th grade |
| Sunday School meets upstairs at the Friendship Center. |
Sunday School meets upstairs at the Friendship Center. |
(Summer 2007)
Last summer nine students and their sponsors went on a mission trip to South Dakota to work on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in hopes of reaching out to at-risk youth in that poverty stricken community. On July 15, after being commissioned by the Southeast congregation, they began the day-long journey to partner with Willow Creek Ministry in this effort. While on the reservation the teens worked throughout the mornings on chores like digging trenches for cabling, laying insulation, and hauling construction debris to the community dump site. In the afternoon they welcomed children from the community, first serving them lunch, then leading a variety of outdoor activities. Braving 100+ degree days, we played sports and took them swimming in the nearby lake. Our youth returned on July 23rd after a challenging week on the reservation.
Our students grew in knowledge and wisdom during this trip. They were able to open their eyes to people and situations that we don’t often see in our own community. They also got to be an example of Christ and a positive role model on children who might not have experienced a loving Father or heard the message of His love. Our youth are looking forward to making a difference in the lives of inner city youth in the year of 2008.