SNOHOMISH — In a youth culture that relies on games and fads, one local youth group strives to encourage teens to give back to the community in which they live. CityServe presented the youth group at Snohomish Free Methodist Church a challenge to get out of the church and give back.
Youth Pastor Jess Champers was able to answer some questions on why he chose to involve his youth with CityServe, a county-wide service project held last weekend.
Question: Where did you go and what did you do?
Champers: We helped out the Snohomish Food Bank, cleaning gutters, scrubbing floors, pressure washing sidewalks and doing general upkeep.
Question: What prompted your teens to get out there and help out?
Champers: I basically told them they had to go, that they needed to see what it was like to serve and do something that was bigger than themselves. They didn’t whine and did a fantastic job. I’m proud of them.
Question: Was it very difficult?
Champers: No, not really. Other than the old, ooey-gooey stuff that was in the gutters. On the bright side, we did use it to throw on unsuspecting people below. “Oh hey, Liz!” and then “Splat!”
Question: So why are community service projects such as CityServe relevant to youth ministry?
Champers: Service projects for teens are needed, or else they are stuck in the usual self-centeredness.
By taking themselves outside of their box, you can show them community and a world that they don’t even know exists. This is something that a lot of adults don’t even do, so this gets them into the practice of being active participants in their own community.
Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.
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