Last week I had the privilege of participating in a Week of Hope alongside a group of eighteen middle school students and two adults from my church. We were a part of a larger team of eighty-seven participants (middle school students, high school students, and adults) from five churches across the country affiliated with three different denominations. This short-term mission opportunity is open to middle and high school students across the country and is facilitated by Group Workcamps.
So What?
Statistically speaking
- over 2,000 hours were given in service as a labor of love and a practical means of loving God by loving others
- over 400 canned food items were given to a local food pantry (nationally at all Week of Hope sites participants have given over 75,000 items and counting)
- 5 nights and 4 days were spent living in community and focusing on living lives of Christian discipleship
Beyond statistics
- Denominational differences were set aside and everyone lived, served, and worshipped together as a single Christian community
- Many new relationships were formed and existing relationships deepened
- God’s love became real for people of all ages: from toddlers to teens to retirees