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“Have your parents ever told you not to do something and curiosity got the better of you and you did it anyway? Did that thing have consequences?” Ethan Waters, a junior, asks some thought-provoking questions during the children’s message on Sunday August 14.
Ethan reminded us all that, “We are not very good listeners to our parents, teachers, and God. Remember that God created us for a purpose. He wants us to listen to His plan. Even though His plan may include treacheries, at the end of the journey, there will be a great reward because you listened to Him.”
Our students who went to the youth gathering and middle school mission trip this summer, led worship on August 14. DCE Dan Hampton shared that, “We do these trips each year to get our students outside of their normal comfort zones to see what God wants us to learn. We get to be the hands and feet of Christ, and we are challenged to see something in a new light.”
Youth Gathering – In All Things
The theme of this year’s Gathering, “In All Things,” was based on Colossians 1:15–20. “In [Christ] all things hold together. … For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” It was Christ that unified the Gathering’s thousands of attendees.
Each of the three main conference days, held in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, began with Bible studies and featured dozens of sessions for youth and adults throughout the day.
Matt, a sophomore, shared with the congregation and online viewers about the big impact the Youth Gathering had on him, “Knowing that there are more than 20,000 people that share your faith with you. It’s not just here. It’s in 11 other countries too.”
One of Anastasia’s favorite games at the gathering included clothes pins. She shared, “We wrote Bible verses, encouraging words, and nice things on the clothes pins and clipped people’s backpacks without them knowing, so it was a surprise for them later.”
Showing Christ’s love in Houston, Kansas, and Indiana
- CLICK HERE to see a video of our student’s summer!
Over the three full days of the Gathering, more than 4,500 participants were deployed across Houston to serve at various locations. Holy Cross’s student group was chosen to serve by building a trail from apartments and an assisted living facility to Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Christie Hampton, an adult leader serving on the trip shared, “When we arrived to our trail building spot, our students jumped into action to help with no hesitation. It was fantastic to see students realize they can do more together.”
Middle School students were able to share Christ’s love a week later starting in Wichita, Kansas! They were able to help ministries by sorting clothes, cleaning, moving classroom furniture, as well as landscaping and painting at a Women’s Counseling Center.
Next, they headed to Evansville, IN, to DCE Dan’s Lutheran School growing up, staying at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School. The school just finished a remodel, so students were able to help clean up all the construction dust and put school furniture and materials back in the classroom, with Tony Shull (one of our Holy Cross youth from the 70s and current Evansville Lutheran School Principal) as their point person. The teachers were so thankful that we were there to help, especially with school starting in two weeks. They also helped at the local food pantry distributing food to over 150 families!
Middle School students ended their trip with a visit to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter which gave them an interactive experience into God’s Word. Remembering that we are called to live out God’s truth. Knowing our Creator is mighty!
DCE Dan Hampton prays that even though these youth are just middle and high schoolers, they see how God is with them each day. And because God is with them, they can see what they can really do in their community and world.
