BreakAway…Reflecting and Looking Forward

April 17, 2010

We would like to take this opportunity to reflect and share about our experiences from the “BreakAway” Spring Break Mission Outreach.  For those who attended worship on “Youth” Sunday (4/11/10) you heard about how much God did in the hearts and lives of some of our youth.  If you weren’t able to be there, you can read the testimonies here.  There were powerful testimonies shared by several young ladies: Brenna Woods, Emma Wheeler, Sara Martin and Jennifer Little.  We’ll try to give you a quick synopsis of our week and then let the youth share some of their thoughts and feelings (hint! hint! please leave comments)

BreakAway is a Spring Break Mission opportunity for local churches who want to involve their youth and congregations in mission and ministry here in the central valley.  Last year was the first year of this program that seems to be having a lasting impact on churches and their youth in building bridges and connecting the body of Christ to the needs and concerns of our neighbors.  Our youth group has participated in both years of BreakAway.  We stayed at Peoples Church in large tents and made our home in our little “camping” community.  We enjoyed morning and evening chapel with worship and a great speaker, John Alvarado, who encouraged and energized our youth with a message that caused all of us to think about how we are allowing God to use our lives to do God’s work.

For the outreach/service component of our week our group hosted a Vacation Bible School program just a few hundred yards south of Hope Lutheran at the Whispering Woods Appartments.  While we started the week with 15 enthusiastic children, the number quickly grew to more than 50 by the final day of our program.  Our afternoons were spent bouncing balls, blowing bubbles, braiding bracelets and being a physical example of God’s love to our neighbor.

It seems like God was present with us during this week and it is equally clear that there is much work still to be done and much love still to be shown.  What do you think?  Did you BreakAway?  Did God do something in your life?  Teach you something?  Have you heard these stories and been encouraged to join in what God is doing?  The mission of our congregation is to extend hope in Jesus; will you let God use your hands to do it?

We’re blessed to see all that God is doing in your lives.  Thanks for sharing so much with us,

Adam & Alison

Oh yeah, almost forgot - they say “a picture is worth a thousand words,” so check out this fun video from our week!

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