When the youth of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pennington decided to take part in World Changers 2002 this past June, they knew they would be asked to leave their comfort zones.
They realized the week that they would spend in Raleigh, N.C., would mean working in ways that they had never experienced before. But when they decided to answer the call to change the world around them, they did not realize the impact it would have on their own lives.
On June 21, a team of six youths and four adults left for Raleigh to join the approximately 250 Southern Baptists who would spend a week repairing, painting and re-roofing homes in an underprivileged community.
As participants in World Changers 2002, the group hoped to make a difference in the area by helping others and by sharing Christ with those around them.
“We were each assigned to groups that consisted of 15 crew members who worked together on a certain project each day,” recalls Steve Bruce, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. “The World Changers theme, ‘Live the Call,’ gave us the opportunity to share the love of Christ with others as we worked to repair homes.”
Leaving behind their usual summertime routine of sleeping late, trips to the beach and lazy days in front of the television, the teens were called upon to perform jobs they had never dreamed of doing. They worked long hours atop hot roofs and spent days hammering, painting and building. They woke early, worked hard and slept on the floor of a local school each night.
“It was hard,” remembers 17-year-old Amy Taylor, “I worked on a crew that fixed a roof. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. But I did.”
Worship services consisting of inspirational music and messages were enjoyed by the 250 participants each night in the school gymnasium. They were also given time for quiet, personal devotion and were encouraged to spend time alone in prayer.
“Together with all the other church groups who were there,” says Bruce, “we worshiped, praised and shared encouragement with each other every day. It was an amazing experience to watch our youth grow in Christ while they served others.”
Vital to their World Changers experience, they say, were the weeks spent in preparation prior to the trip. According to Bruce, the group prepared for the experience by participating in a six-session study provided by the World Changers organization. The group took a weekend retreat to a remote river camp to spend time together in Bible study and prayer. They also performed community work projects and fund-raisers in their own community prior to the trip to Raleigh.
After a week spent serving in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable circumstances, the 10 World Changers from Ebenezer who returned to Pennington on June 29 were not the same ones who had left only a week before.
Each now has a story to tell. Each has special memories of time spent serving God like never before. And each one has a testimony of how the Lord has spoken to them through the missions project.
Because of their World Changers experience, two of the teens have now committed to follow the Lord’s call into ministry.
Amy Taylor plans to become a youth minister, and Joey Pearson, 17, plans to work in music ministry. Others in the group are now much bolder with their witness, much more outspoken with their faith, much more committed in their own walk with Christ.
Tenth grader Kristen Seats says that she now understands why her experience was so powerful. “Before we left, we said, ‘God, what do You want to do this week?’ not ‘What do I want to do?’ That’s what made the difference.”
Sommer Pearson, 15, passionately speaks of her newfound commitment to Christ.
Her prayer life, she says, has become more vital and time spent alone with Christ has become a matter of utmost importance in her life.
“I know what’s important now,” says Sommer. “It’s not all about me anymore.”
Now that the group is back to their regular routine and comfort zones, Bruce intends to keep their eyes focused on what they have learned through World Changers.
Not only does he plan to take the group to another World Changers event next year, he encourages them not to forget the new commitments they have made. He reminds them that when they left for Raleigh to spend a week serving others, they were expecting to become World Changers.
But now they understand that serving others not only changes the world, it also changes the hearts of those who serve.
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