Challenge Update #4: Service

A note from Sarah…

Hello from Columbus! This week has been going by so fast. Apart from the rallies and prayer times, we signed up to be a part of a training track called “Anything Helps?: Charity That Brings Change.” On Tuesday we had a meeting with all the groups that we would be serving with. The big idea was that charity changes when we build something together. So basically our goal was to come alongside an organization in Columbus and serve them in any way we could.

On Wednesday we went out to the community and put into practice what we had learned–to be flexible, have a servant heart, and to get to know the people you are serving. The location our group went to was called City Life Center. It is located in an old school building. They do after-school activities and have a summer program as well. They also have a car garage where teenagers from the neighborhood are hired to work there and trained in mechanics as well as discipleship. The newest addition to their ministry is a house that will be fixed up and remodeled. This building will be used to house teenage moms so they don’t have to live with their boyfriends. They then can learn how to support themselves. This is where I was at work for the day.

We got to the house, and it was barred up and in much need of work. Our main goal for the day was to pick weeds, rake, and pick up the back yard. The weeds were huge! The smell of rotting rhubarb (and possibly a dead animal) were ever-present, but our group worked hard to make it look the best we could. Our group consisted of people from many other churches, and it was so cool to see the unity we had because we are all serving there. It was amazing how much junk we found hidden in the grass.

The time we spent there went fast! The rest of our group was painting, cleaning out the space, and other tasks. This ministry has a really neat vision of breaking the cycle of the neighborhood, and it was so fun to be a part of it all.