World Changers, an intense, hands-on missions experience for students sponsored and managed by the North American Mission Board (NAMB), will mark a number of key milestones this summer, not the least of which is its 20th anniversary.
World Changers launched its first fledgling community project in Briceville, Tenn., near Knoxville, back in 1990.
Between June 7 and July 31, the 2010 edition of World Changers also will celebrate its 300,000th student participant; its 10,000th church youth group; the 100th summer project in Alabama and Georgia; the 400th house to be renovated in Casper, Wyo.; and some $2 million raised through small contributions by the thousands of students who have participated in World Changers over the last 20 years.
That $2 million has gone solely to fund even more NAMB ministries across North America, said Jonathan Wilson, NAMB’s strategy development coordinator for World Changers and its companion ministry, PowerPlant.
“We want this summer to be one big celebration — for the 20th anniversary as well as to celebrate the thousands of Southern Baptist churches that have partnered with us over the years by sending their students to join us. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
This summer, World Changers will mobilize 21,000 student and adult volunteers to work in 85 cities on 97 projects across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Students from middle school to
college-age will to serve on a team that will repair and renovate inner-city homes. Despite sweltering summer heat, students will paint houses, repair or replace roofs, do minor carpentry and yard work.
“With 21,000 registered students, we’re pleased in light of the current economy,” said Wilson, adding that NAMB reduced the fee this year in recognition of tighter money for both churches and families. World Changers also was cut back from seven days to a Monday-Saturday schedule.
“Going to the five-day model will allow our staff to facilitate more projects, streamline operations and help us use our resources more wisely,” Wilson said. “We’ll still be able to offer a great missions experience, one that will challenge the students to live ‘an unhindered life for God’ — that’s our theme this year.
“Our Baptist churches have responded in a tremendous way to the changes,” Wilson added. “They understand we’re trying to be good stewards of our resources. Our team at NAMB works hard at providing the best missions experience we can at the best value.”
Wilson said World Changers will be in several new cities this summer, including Waianae, Hawaii; Waco, Texas; and Sugar Hill, Ga., north of Atlanta. The World Changers website — www.world-changers.net — is the best source for information on the ministry and this summer’s 97 projects, Wilson said. Every project site will have a blog that will be updated daily. Streamed live video, including video of nightly worship services, also will be available from some locations.
Another 2,500 or so students have signed up for PowerPlant projects in 19 cities across the United States and in Ottawa, Ont., between June 7 and July 24. PowerPlant students gain real-world experience in church planting and evangelism. First-time PowerPlant cities will be Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Madison, Wis.
For additional information on NAMB’s PowerPlant ministry, visit www.power-plant.net.
The third of NAMB’s trio of summer group mission ministries is Families on Mission (FOM), now in its fifth year. It provides families with a hands-on experience of mission projects including prayerwalking, light construction, painting, yard work, Vacation Bible School, sports camps, block parties, acts of kindness and other evangelistic initiatives. For more information on FOM, visit www.namb.net/fom, e-mail fom@namb.net or call 1-800-462-8657, Ext. 6456. (BP)
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