Hundreds of middle school, high school and college students spent the weekend of Oct. 10-12 learning about the needs of people and churches in their own backyards.
The weekend missions/ministry opportunity for students in associations helped educate churches and associations about using high school and college students in local ministry and missions efforts, said Scotty Goldman, associate in collegiate and student ministries for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
“It impacted communities and individuals with the gospel and gave college and high school students ministry opportunities. It also educated associations and churches how effective student ministry can be,” Goldman said. “This was the first time we did this type of event.”
Variety of projects
Marisa Taylor, minister of youth and children of South Roebuck Baptist Church, Birmingham, said about 12 students participated from her church.
“The students worked on the grounds at our church all morning cutting limbs, trimming trees and general yard work, and then we joined other churches in our area for a coordinated worship service that afternoon.
“We enjoyed the fellowship with Chalkville First Baptist, Eastside Baptist Church and Deerfoot Baptist Church,” she said. “Overall in our group about 50 kids in grades 7-12 participated. We plan to do it again.”
According to Jason Motte, Beeson Divinity School student and student minister at Eastside Baptist Church, the weekend was a great success.
“About 20 of our high school students worked in a prospective member’s yard and witnessed to her. We replaced her front porch and did general repairs.”
Motte’s group joined Taylor’s group for worship that afternoon.
Motte’s students participate frequently in missions projects. They hand out tracts and witness to people through the Jimmie Hale Mission, the Alabama Raceway Ministries at the Talladega SuperSpeedway and backyard Bible clubs. They plan to continue doing these type ministries.
Huffman High School senior Ted Green describes his experience during the MPact weekend as “lots of fun.” Green is a youth leader at South Roebuck Baptist Church.
“We trimmed bushes, cut down trees and helped with flower beds on the church property. We then enjoyed a worship service with the other churches. I enjoy helping others and we hope to do more missions projects in the future,” Green said.
First Baptist Church, Prattville, in Autauga Baptist Association participated in a 24-hour fast called “Beat Hunger.”
More than 300 pounds of food were collected door to door by the middle school and high school students.
Young participants
The food was donated to the Autauga Interfaith Care Center. After the food was collected and sorted, a worship rally was led by the Baptist Campus Ministries band from Auburn University at Montgomery.
“MPact was an intentional effort to include middle and high school students,” Goldman said.
“Through Baptist Campus Ministries across the state, college students are involved in this type of ministry on an ongoing basis, but we wanted to include the high school students as well.”
“All who participated had a good time and enjoyed helping others,” said Larry Jenkins, minister of students, First, Prattville. “We would like to do it again and include more of our association partners.”
Judson College students helped hand out food and clothing and did home repairs through CrossTies, an interdenominational outreach center in Marion.
At the Perry County Health Department they mopped, dusted and emptied trash for the Perry County initiative known as Sowing Seeds of Hope.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for all involved to positively impact our state and demonstrate the love of Christ,” said Judson student Ivy Kaster.
“At present there are no plans to make [MPact Alabama] an annual event, but we are still collecting evaluation forms from each church participant,” Goldman said.
“This is something we hope to do again in a few years if not sooner.”
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