youthunlimited.org | 1

Y O U T H U N L I M I T E D M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

THE STORY

hearlivetell

SUMMER 2013 | FINDING MY OWN FAITH | A PEEK AT 2014 | RESOURCE BOX

2 |SPRING 2013

THINK GLOBALLY

FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE MIDDLE EASTWherever God LeadsAround the corner or across the globe, Calvin students are challenged to think about the intersection of faith, local needs and global perspectives:

+ studying in over 30 countries on six continents+ welcoming nearly 400 international students on campus+ engaging in more than 3,500 service-learning projects, both local and global

Join the global conversation, meet the neighbors… and see where God leads.

www.calvin.edu

Calvin_Youth Unlimited_Spring 2013_GLOBAL.indd 1 3/27/13 1:42 PM

YOUTH UNLIMITED | SPRING 2013Youth Unlimited has a rich 90 year history of assisting churches ministering to youth. Birthed out of the Christian Reformed Church, Youth Unlimited remains committed to the reformed perspective while serving alongside congregations of any denomination. We strongly believe that the local church is the tool God is using to reveal himself to this world, and we are blessed to partner with congregations to offer faith-forming experiences that reach this generation of youth for Jesus Christ!

This informational magazine is printed in the United States as a free resource to churches across North America. It is published triannually by Youth Unlimited, Grand Rapids, MI.

Design & Publication Director | Jim Bowerman

Contributing Writers | Jerry Meadows, Jeff Kruithof, Jim Bowerman, Millie Hoekstra, Shellie Power, Elisa Fernandez, Jolene DeHeer

Cover Photo Credit | Amanda Bowerman | amandamaedesign.com *Photo taken at the 2013 Youth Unlimited Summit.

Editor | Megan Nollet

USA | Postmaster, please send undeliverable copies and address changes to:

Youth Unlimited PO Box 7259 Grand Rapids, MI 49510

Canada | Canada Post International Sales Agreement #41124116. Please send undeliverable copies and address changes to:

Youth Unlimited PO Box 1100 Norwich, ON, N0J 1P0

THE YOUTH UNLIMITED TEAM:

Executive Director:Jeff Kruithof616.241.5616 ext. 3043jeff@youthunlimited.org

Missions Director:Jerry Meadows616.241.5616 ext. 3040jerry@youthunlimited.org

Events Manager:Millie Hoekstra616.241.5616 ext. 3063millie@youthunlimited.org

Office Manager & Program Admin:Alesha Ebeling616.241.5616 ext. 3038alesha@youthunlimited.org

Marketing & Communication Director:Jim Bowerman616.241.5616 ext. 3039jim@youthunlimited.org

Editor & Social Media Coordinator:Megan Nollet616.241.5616 ext. 3045megan@youthunlimited.org

youthunlimited.org | 1

ContentsOPENING NOTE: SHARE YOUR STORY ............................ PG. 2

FINDING MY OWN FAITH ...................................... PG. 6

LIVE IT 2013 ..................................................... PG. 8

THE CHICAGO PROJECT 2013 ............................. PG. 12

SERVE 2013 .................................................... PG. 14

STAFF PICKS .................................................... PG. 18

SERVE 2014 .................................................... PG. 20

LEARNING, GROWING, SERVe-ING ....................... PG. 24

WHAT YOUTH LEADERS REALLY WANT IN A MISSION EXPERIENCE ................................ PG. 26

STUDENT QUOTES ............................................. PG. 28

What are these boxes?

They are QR codes: two-di-mensional barcodes that can

be read by smart phones.

Own a smart phone?

1. Download the app.

2. Scan the code.

Hold your phone over the code, and use its camera

and a QR app to read the QR code.

3. Enjoy!

The QR code will direct you to a site, a video, music,

photo or other goody.

No smart phone?

Look for the link at the bottom.

shareyourstory

2 |SPRING 2013

JEFFKRUITHOFhas 17 years of experience in non-profit leadership and a love for God’s work through the local church.

I t was 4:00 PM, and I found myself

sitting in the Arby’s on South

Washington, my heart pounding,

my hands shaky and my mouth

dry as a cork. For the first time in

my life I was inviting a student to

begin a personal relationship with

Jesus Christ.

If you were raised as I was,

sharing your faith story or

testimony with someone may be a

foreign idea—something only done by

missionaries. In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, “But

in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer

to everyone who asks you to give the

reason for the hope that you have. But

do this with gentleness and respect.”

It’s easy to understand why sharing our

faith can be a fearful experience. There

is risk involved. We could be thought

of as a fanatic, or perceived as thinking

we are better than others, or accused

of being judgmental, and yet Christ

desires us to show and share his love to

the world—in our case, to students.

Telling others about Jesus does not

have to be scary, though. For example,

if I asked you to tell me about the time

you lost a loved one, or how you coped

with being laid off, or how you survived

a difficult class in school, I know you

could, and I’m guessing you might

even highlight how Jesus helped you

through it. When we are able to walk

alongside those struggling with similar

life experiences, there will be natural

opportunities to share your story and

Jesus’ role in it. In the context of a real,

authentic relationship, sharing your life

story gives your students (believing or

unbelieving) glimpses of hope in a world

devoid of hope apart from Jesus Christ.

Back at Arby’s . . . I’ll never forget his

quick, yet monotone response: “No

thank you.” What Lord? Really? NO?

I stepped out in faith, was obedient,

and this is what I get—a NO! How

could this be? Later that evening I was

reminded that I have the opportunity

to tell others about Jesus, but he has

the responsibility to change hearts.

That young man had not said no to me;

he had said no to Jesus. Thankfully,

Jesus does not always accept our first

responses. God had helped me to plant

a seed in this young man’s life, and only

God could bring that seed of faith to bear

fruit in his perfect timing. Even though

the student’s response was not the one

I had been praying for, it was the most

alive I had ever felt as a Christ follower!

This summer, as you find yourself

on a faith-forming experience like

Serve or Live It, ask yourself if God

has placed someone in the group that

needs to hear about Jesus through

your story. My guess is that the answer

will be yes! I hope that the articles and

information on the following pages will

be a blessing to you as you prepare. It’s

also my prayer that God will help you

discern the Holy Spirit’s whispers this

summer, and give you the boldness to

step out in faith.

Jeff Kruithof Executive Director Youth Unlimited

“WHEN WE ARE

ABLE TO WALK

ALONGSIDE THOSE

STRUGGLING

WITH SIMILAR LIFE

EXPERIENCES, THERE

WILL BE NATURAL

OPPORTUNITIES

TO SHARE YOUR

STORY AND JESUS’

ROLE IN IT. IN THE

CONTEXT OF A

REAL, AUTHENTIC

RELATIONSHIP,

SHARING YOUR LIFE

STORY GIVES YOUR

STUDENTS GLIMPSES

OF HOPE IN A

WORLD DEVOID OF

HOPE APART FROM

JESUS CHRIST.”

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4 |SPRING 2013

JUNE 26-JULY 17, 2013$320 PAR T IC IPAT ION FEE

ALL O THER EXPENSES PA ID

youthunlimited.org | 5

f inding my own faithBY JIM BOWERMAN

6 |SPRING 2013

I grew up in a tumultuous

home. My family was lower class, and

I was the middle child of a somewhat

recovered alcoholic father and a mother

who was trying to piece together what

her newfound faith in God meant for her

and for her household. As a child and

well into my teen years, my mother’s

journey toward God was a hodgepodge

of regurgitated televangelists’ theology.

Our family bounced from church to

church, receiving offerings of extreme

grace one Sunday and being pelted with

hellfire-and-brimstone the next.

I learned about Jesus at a young age.

This foundation of knowledge was

important, and along with my mother’s

expanding journey, led me to say

prayers I thought I meant, ask Jesus

into my heart (on a regular basis!) and

feel the pricks of

a guilty conscious

when I was sure

I was not doing

what Jesus would

like. During my

early teen years I

thought this was

all there was to

faith in God.

Thank God for my

late mother, but

thank God also

for youth group

leaders and the

opportunities

they gave me to

explore my own

faith among my

peers and among adults who felt called

to foster the faith of young people. I

would not be who I am today without

having had the chance to escape

everyday life to a safe place where I

could learn to cry out for God in my

own way.

If you are a youth leader, take heart.

Sometimes the smallest acts of care

can change the trajectory of a young

person’s life. While on a youth outing,

my youth pastor, on a sudden whim of

inspiration, gathered every available

pot and bucket and turned them upside

down for me to drum on as hard as I

could. Banging on pots and pans at 13

or 14 to Wes King (showing my age)

may not seem like a big deal, but it was

the first time I felt like someone had

taken the time to see into me, recognize

my desires and encourage them. I still

play the drums, and I still remember

that it was my

youth pastor

who first took

the time to foster

my passion and

taught me to use

my gifts for Jesus

Christ.

Then there was

the camp week

where I finally

felt the freedom

to say that “I just

must not feel it

as much as the

other students”

because my

emotions and

reactions to the

week’s teachings and worship were just

not like the rest, and I felt so guilty. One

“Thank God also for youth group leaders and the opportunities they gave me to explore my own faith among my peers and among adults who felt called to foster the faith of young people. I would not be who I am today without having had the chance to escape everyday life to a safe place where I could learn to cry out for God in my own way.”

dear, elderly lady sat me down and

said that I was just trying too hard. Her

words finally released me to be myself,

because not all faith journeys should

look alike. What a release from such

simple words. For the first time, I quit

overthinking and trying to mimic what

other’s faith looked like, and I cried out

to God on my own. She probably had

no idea what freedom she gave me that

day, or that I still hear her words when I

feel out of place or am striving too hard

to reach God when he is always right

by my side.

I needed escape from routine, home and

everyday life to discover who I was in

Christ. As an adult, I still need that. We

are a people made for God’s whispers

and shouts. Sometimes we just can’t

hear them when we are surrounded by

everyday life and all the things we think

we’re supposed to be doing.

This is why I work at Youth Unlimited

today; students need time and space

to begin forging their own journey

with Christ. They need to receive

care and mentoring from other adult

Christians who love them. They need

opportunities to get out of their comfort

zones and make their faith their own.

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Check out our Digital Resource Box for Live It to find guidelines for building relationships and leading group discussion!

8 |SPRING 2013

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA JULY 23–27, 2013

HELD AT ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY

V I S I T Y O UTH U N L I M I T E D . O R G F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

A LIFESTYLE

A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

TO KNOW MY GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL

TO ENGAGE THIS WORLD

I WANT MORE THAN JUST

ANOTHER EVENT. I NEED:

Have you ever watched

a particularly powerful

thunderstorm roll in? If you

have, you can appreciate the sense of

overwhelming power that occurs as

the skies light up and the air snaps and

rumbles with electricity. Sometimes the

sound of the thunder is overpowering. It

takes your breath away and fills you with

awe and wonder. This summer at Live

It you can experience awe and wonder

as you gather together with hundreds

of fellow Christians to worship the Lord

who is King of the thunderstorm and

King of your heart. Trust me; the power

of the Holy Spirit resting on God’s people

can make the power of a thunderstorm

pale in comparison.

Each evening we will gather for

worship. At that time, the Adam

Locker band will enable us to praise

and worship God through music

and singing. It has been said that

the shortest distance between the

heart of God and the heart of man

is a song. These amazing musicians

are going to help us get as close to

the heart of God as we can. Being

that close to that much majesty and

power has the potential to change you

forever. The praise and worship will

continue as Jarrod Jones and myself

bring messages that will challenge

and encourage you to appreciate

how powerfully God can work in and

through you. It is our prayer that the

Holy Spirit will inspire you to appreciate

anew the wonderfully unique way you

are created and to dream big dreams

about what you can do to help build

God’s kingdom—not just during your

time at Live It, but throughout your

whole life. You are a person of great

significance, and God has a plan to

use you. Live It is designed to help you

identify your passions for service and

ministry and discover ways to use them

as you go forward in your faith journey.

There is the potential for earth-shaking,

life-changing power to be unleashed

this summer at Live It. You can be

sure that you will have an opportunity

to experience God’s presence here

in ways that will touch your heart

and your life. Together we can praise

and worship God so that the spiritual

world rumbles with electricity and the

power of God is released. There is no

mistake—God has placed a call on your

life! Join us at Live It to explore what

that call is and experience the pure joy

of living out that calling so that others

will be blessed, God’s kingdom will

grow, and God himself will be glorified.

These could be the five most important

days of your life!

To increase the excitement even more, visit our Digital Resource Box for posters, bulletin inserts and more! Scan the QR code on page 7.

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA JULY 23–27, 2013

HELD AT ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY

V I S I T Y O UTH U N L I M I T E D . O R G F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

A LIFESTYLE

A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

TO KNOW MY GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL

TO ENGAGE THIS WORLD

I WANT MORE THAN JUST

ANOTHER EVENT. I NEED:

THERE IS A STORM COMING! BY JOLENE DEHEER

by presenters who will speak on topics

such as “Living a Distinctively Christian

Life in the World of (Professional)

Sports” and “Christian Leadership in

a Secular Environment.” Competition

and tournaments will take place in the

afternoons, allowing participants to

explore the joy of serving others as

athletes and as members of a team.

The Do Track will take place out in

the community where participants

will get to know the needs that exist

there and experience how they can

make a difference with their hands and

hearts. They will be working with The

Moon-township Project at the local

Boys and Girls Club and doing cleanup

in a low-income housing area. As

participants also spend time at the local

food bank, doing downtown cleanup,

and revitalizing the train station facility,

their deeds will be an expression of

the love and joy of God in their lives.

The Grow Track is going to be a place

to BE with God. So often we seek him

and his will by doing, but the Grow

Track is going to be a different sort of

God encounter. Participants will have

a Family Group that they will travel

with in this journey. Together they will

wrestle with God questions, talk about

doubts that believers face, and discuss

and learn how to follow the example

that Jesus sets in the Bible. Participants

will seek to act like Jesus within the

community of Pittsburg. Even more

importantly, participants will learn the

joy of expressing their faith story to

others, how their story fits into God’s

story and how to trust the plans he has

for their lives.

The Play Track will be active and

interactive. Activities and initiatives

will help everyone discover how to

honor God on the court and on the

field. Participants will be challenged

Participants will give of themselves to

support God’s greater cause.

The Create Track will challenge

participants to discover more fully their

God-given talents and abilities as they

work alongside talented instructors. As

they create, whether in music, drama,

dance, or graphic arts, they will see

how their art is a part of God’s love for

the world and learn how they can use

it to glorify him and enrich the lives

of others. While they spend their time

exploring, expressing and living out

their passion, participants will learn

the value of becoming co-creators

alongside the Creator of the universe.

Check out our Digital Resource Box for some great ways to create lasting impact from this experience! Scan the QR code on page 7.

10 |SPRING 2013

SPEAKERS/WORSHIP LEADERS:

PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION!

youthunlimited.org | 11

777 Garner Road East, Ancaster, ON L9K 1J4T. 905.648.2131 | F. 905.648.2134 | 1.877.779.0913www.redeemer.ca

EXPERIENCE REDEEMER

YOUR FUTURE: Choose from more than 70 majors and minors as you earn your BA, BSc. or B.Ed. degree.

YOUR FAITH: Integrate your faith into the lecture hall, labs, residences,

service opportunities and every other aspect of university life.

YOUR COMMUNITY: Our supportive Christian university community will prepare you for a rewarding

career, graduate studies or work in ministry.

Visit www.redeemer.ca now to book a campus visit or apply online.

SPEAKERS/WORSHIP LEADERS:

JARROD JONES ADAM LOCKER JOLENE DEHEER

PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION! Only minutes into his presentation, you’ll discover

that Jarrod Jones stands out from the rest. Jarrod’s

passionate delivery commands attention and leaves listeners riveted.

Jolene is one of the freshest and most inspirational

speakers available today. Her dynamic life stories and practical insights move her audiences from gut-busting laughter to heart-felt tears.

Having gone from playing on the streets of New York City to being an opening act for Jars of Clay, Adam has

acquired a strong voice and passionate melodies that

make him an artist you won’t soon forget.

12 |SPRING 2013

VISIT YOUTHUNLIMITED.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

TRINITY Christian COLLEGE

July 28 to August 1, 2013

Visit us online to see if there is still room for you!

youthunlimited.org | 13

“The church has left the building!”

This summer, over 250 students and their leaders will flood the streets of Palos Heights, Illinois, just 30 minutes from the Windy

City, to show Christ’s love and bring restoration to the community. Participants from across Canada and the U.S. will travel to

Trinity Christian College, ready to worship in the sanctuary as well as the streets, advancing and expanding the ministry of the

college and area churches. The Chicago Project is a chance for students to be a vital and lasting expression of Christ’s love to

the community of Palos Heights, Illinois.

Hosting The Chicago Project for Youth Unlimited is a great extension of the ministry that our Trinity Christian College students

do throughout the school year and helps us expand the incarnational ministry God has called us to. We’re not just about higher

education. We’re about the Father’s business, as Christ called us to be, in our community.

— Jeremy Klyn, Trinity Christian College Admissions Director

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

S T U D E N T S B R I N G I N G H O P E

T O A B R O K E N W O R L D

V I S I T Y O U T H U N L I M I T E D . O R G T O D AY F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

14 |SPRING 2013

God’s story of redemption is the most powerful love story that we can share with one another. As youth

leaders, we desire to share God’s story,

and engaging students in experiences

like Serve is a way for them to connect

with God personally. It is an honor

to serve alongside students and

share with them in witnessing God’s

redemptive work in new communities

across the country. Those stories are

what kept me involved with Serve for

seven years and eventually led me to

my career in youth ministry.

Serve is known for setting up great

worksites like building houses, or

working in fields, stocking the local area

food bank, perhaps even folding clothes

at a local pawn shop. Although all of

these sites are good and in need of help

from willing and able youth, how often

are we sharing the story behind the

service that our youth are engaging in?

One summer, I took a group of youth

to Holland, MI on Serve. We were

assigned to paint a house belonging

to an elderly couple who attended the

Host Church. After two days of scraping

off peeling paint, my group of six was

running out of steam. The work was

difficult, the sun was beating on us, and

my students were growing weary of

the project.

The elderly couple invited us inside,

and we joined them for lunch with

our brown sack lunches. We noticed

that the man of the house was in a

wheelchair, hardly able to speak or

to move on his own. His lovely wife

offered us lemonade and cookies. We

decided to initiate a conversation with

our new friends by asking questions in

order to learn more about them. After

our lunchtime interview, we learned

that he had had a horrible stroke

and that she was now his primary

caregiver. This woman was in her late

70s and was completely devoted to the

care of her husband every day: bathing

him, clothing him, feeding him. She

didn’t complain once. She described to

us the blessing of their marriage and

how she was happy to care for him in

all these ways.

We finished the house-painting project

for our new friends that week. It took

forever, but we completed the project!

On the Friday evening before Serve

was over, I asked my group what their

favorite part of the week was. I was

blown away when they all agreed that

it was spending time with the elderly

couple; learning about their life and

their unconditional love for one another.

The testimony of those being served

can impact the life of a young person.

As leaders, let us encourage our

students to discover the story that lies

behind the service. You will never

know the story unless you ask. Make

the service personal and engage with

people’s stories; let them affect your

group. In the end, Serve is not so much

about the work we do for people as it is

about witnessing God’s glory through

the people that we serve.

THE STORY BEHIND THE SERVICE

Check out our Digital Resource Box online for more ways to prepare your group for a meaningful experience at Serve!

youthunlimited.org | 15

BY ELISAFERNANDEZ

LOCATIONS FOR SERVE 2013

Serve6

6

6

6

6

6

66

66

66

6

6

6

6

6

MARCH 9–16 (SPRING BREAK)

BRADENTON, FLORIDA

JUNE 8–15HOUSTON, TEXAS

JUNE 22–29CROWN POINT, INDIANA

JUNE 22–29 (LAGRAVE)

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

JUNE 22–29 (NORTH CHURCH)

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

JUNE 22–29 PLATTE, SOUTH DAKOTA

JUNE 29–JULY 6AUSTIN, TEXAS

JUNE 29–JULY 6VANASTRA, ONTARIO

JULY 5–11 (SPECIAL NEEDS)

OTTAWA, ONTARIO

JULY 6–13LONDON, ONTARIO

FULL

FULL FULL

FULL

FULL

COMPLETE

16 |SPRING 2013

JULY 6–13MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN

JULY 6–13ORILLIA, ONTARIO

JULY 6–13PORT PERRY, ONTARIO

JULY 6–13ROSELAWN, INDIANA

JULY 6-13 (FAIRFAX)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

JULY 13–20ALAMOSO, COLORADO

JULY 13–19 (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

BYRON CENTER, MICHIGAN

JULY 13–20HAMILTON, ONTARIO

JULY 13–20 (NORTH CHURCH)

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

JULY 13–20SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

JULY 20–27HOLLAND, MICHIGAN

JULY 20–27 (NORTH CHURCH)

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

JULY 20–27PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO

JULY 20–27REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA

JULY 20–25 (SPECIAL NEEDS)

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

JULY 20–27WOODSTOCK, ONTARIO

JULY 27–AUGUST 3WEST DES MOINES, IOWA

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL FULL

FULL FULL

A FEW OF OUR SITES STILL HAVE SPACE, AND THEY ARE

LOOKING FOR YOU! CHECK OUT OUR SITE DESCRIPTIONS

ONLINE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH LOCATION YOU WOULD

LIKE TO ATTEND!

youthunlimited.org | 17

what the youth unlimited staff is into latelyMovies, Music , Apps, TV, Books and Web

18 |SPRING 2013

youthunlimited.org | 19

20 |SPRING 2013

W H A T C A N G O D D O W I T H M E T O D A Y , R I G H T W H E R E I A M ?

S e r v e 2 0 1 4

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ISAIAH 58

T H E S U M M E R O F 2 0 1 4 M A R K S 2 5 Y E A R S O F S E R V E !

R E G I S T R A T I O N O P E N S N O V E M B E R 1 A T Y O U T H U N L I M I T E D . O R G / S E R V E

Serve Sites

Serve Sites are one week mission

experiences hosted by local churches.

Host Churches request 40 - 100

students to help with their community

outreach and revitalization. The

students and youth leaders come from

four or more Sending Churches with

a maximum Sending Church group

size of 15 participants. Groups larger

than 15 must register for two or more

Serve Sites. This is because Serve

Sites are meant to provide students

with an experience of fellowship and

unity with the larger body of Christ.

Relationships at Serve Sites deepen

fast since the participants are put into

random work teams, and those teams

also function as the students’ small

groups throughout the week.

Serve Projects

Serve Projects last for five days and

are hosted at a Christian college.

These colleges can host upwards

of 250 students at a time in order to

build on their year-round community

outreach efforts. During a Serve

Project, youth groups stay together

the entire time and are led by adults

from their own church. There is no

limit on how many students a group

can bring. Serve Projects are meant to

provide an atmosphere of high energy

and service opportunity in which youth

groups can grow unity with each other

and connect relationally with their

own leaders, while also having plenty

of opportunity to interact with people

from other churches. The Chicago

Project will be back in 2014, along with

a new location—The Prairie Project!

22 |SPRING 2013

Serve at a Glance

Typical Day

7:00 AM – Breakfast/Prepare Lunches

8:00 AM – Devotions

8:45 AM – Leave for Worksites

4:00 PM – Showers/Free Time

6:00 PM – Dinner

7:30 PM – Evening Session

9:00 PM – Small Group Discussion

10:00 PM – Snack and Free Time

11:00 PM – Lights Out

The Serve Experience

Participating in Serve, whether at a

Site or a Project, will introduce your

students to the concepts of justice and

missional living. Any Serve experience

you choose will introduce and involve

your students in one or more of the

following types of service:

• Community Revitalization

• Compassion for the

Marginalized

• Creation Care

• Recreational Ministry for

Children

• Acts of Kindness

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Serve at a Glance

LEARNING GROWING

SERVE-INGH O S T I N G A S P E C I A L N E E D S S E R V E

24 |SPRING 2013

BY SHELLIE POWER

Hosting a Special Needs Serve is tiring, emotional, and frustrating at times, and yet it is the highlight of my year!

I am amazed at all of the things

that God has taught me. Over the

last five years I have grown in my

understanding of my own faith, my

relationship with God and others, have

experienced God in surprising places

and have had a lot of fun in the process.

(Never underestimate the fun factor!)

I work to orchestrate a Special Needs

Serve that incorporates special

planning and support in addition to the

typical Serve template.

Youth mentors are important in the

model that we use. Mentors are

typical youth (not sure that’s EVER

possible) who give of themselves to

be the immediate supports needed

to accommodate the many different

needs of the students who come for

this mission experience. Each youth

with a disability is paired with a peer

mentor who participates in Serve

alongside them and lends support

where necessary. Seeing the growth

that happens among the mentors is

amazing. They are challenged to learn

how to do something with someone

as opposed to for someone. It is a

week where they trade selfishness

for selflessness. They learn about

authentic relationship—relationships

that are mutual. The week begins with

terms like ‘mentor’ and ‘participant.’

The week always ends with terms like

‘friend’ and ‘buddy,’ communicating

clear similarities—all equal and created

for service.

Special Needs Serve flips our picture

of disability, forcing us to see how

everyone, regardless of ability, is

created with gifts that contribute to

building the body of Christ. It amazes

me how many youth with disabilities do

not otherwise have the opportunity to

participate in a mission trip experience.

I love the joy that the participants share

when they are challenged to live out

their faith—to be the hands and feet of

Jesus Christ.

Amy has been a participant at Serve

many times. As leaders, we have seen

her grow in many ways, but watching

her learn to articulate a clear faith is by

far the most rewarding. “I like Serve

because it gives me a chance to give

back to God, meeting new people and

learning more about God. . . . It gives

me a chance to grow spiritually and as a

person. . . . Each year I renew my faith

in God, and I come home with a new

message, which I pass along to others.”

Special Needs Serve helps us as

leaders grow in our ability to be

vulnerable. We learn to worship without

abandon—to be who we are, to be free

and to express our faith in many ways.

It also becomes a way to give

testimony to the way in which God

calls us all to live in community and in

Serve-ice to him.

youthunlimited.org | 25

S C A N T O D O N AT E T O D AY !

The only thing changing faster than

technology these days is youth

culture. Today’s generation of youth,

and those following, are constantly

finding themselves in a whole new

culture. They face challenges,

pressures and perspectives that shake

their faith in ways previously not

imagined. We firmly believe there has

never been a time where churches

could use the help of Youth Unlimited

more than now!

We need your help to keep

connecting students to the love of

Jesus Christ!

Would you prayerfully consider

making a financial investment to Youth

Unlimited to ensure we continue to

support our local churches as they

minister to our youth?

Y o u r d o n at i o nm at t e r s !

26 |SPRING 2013

With the goal of continual improvement in mind, Youth Unlimited asked

ten youth leaders to explain what they hope for in a North American

mission experience. Here’s a glimpse at their answers.

TRUST

Taking a group on a trip means that

you must trust the leaders who will

guide you through the experience

once you arrive. It’s nearly

impossible to have a great trip

without a good host organization

or church to guide you. That’s why

Youth Unlimited is dedicated to

building strong Host Church teams.

A new Host Church learns the best

practices of short-term missions

and hosting. They consider how

the Serve week integrates with

their ongoing home missions

and community outreach efforts.

Resources and ideas are shared

across an extensive network of

Host Churches across Canada and

the U.S.

SIMPLICITY

Missions is never “easy.” The very

nature of missions demands that

we grapple with spiritual battles

and issues of injustice. However,

by providing administrative

help and an excellent Digital

Resource Box, Youth Unlimited

seeks to make the mobilization of

students for the cause of Christ

as simple as possible for church

leaders. Clear communication is

also important here. This is the

difference between a smooth and

simple experience or one in which

groups feel confused and lost.

Youth Unlimited encourages Host

Churches to communicate clearly

and often.

THE GOSPEL

Youth Leaders want their groups

to experience a gospel-filled week.

The Speaker, the Worship Leader

and the adult leaders at Serve

are urged to make the gospel the

center of everything that happens.

Students will be reminded of the

good news and that the death

and resurrection of Christ is our

motivation for serving in the

community.

A CHALLENGE

At the end of the week, participants

ought to be saying, “I worked hard,

played hard and thought more

deeply about my walk with Christ.

I was stretched out of my comfort

zone.” That’s the ideal. Now, a brief

reality check:

There are always a few

students and even adults who

do not want to be challenged.

Sending Churches want

Host Churches/Ministries

to use grace and love

when confronting behavior

problems.

Not all worksites will lead

to amazing and fulfilling

experiences. The Host

Churches strive to connect the

work to the need and the need

to a person and their story.

Even when that person or

story is not obvious, however,

students are still urged to

serve with perseverance and a

good attitude.

LEADERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE

Some youth leaders are veterans

and come with years of experience.

Others are recruited at the last

minute and need almost constant

guidance. Host Churches/Ministries

can assess adult leaders’ abilities

and help them out as needed.

INCLUSIVE TRIPS

Youth leaders and students work

hard to raise the money for a

mission trip, so hidden costs are

not cool. Sure, an extra $5 for the

day away is reasonable. But an

extra $15 is not going to happen.

Sending Churches shouldn’t have

to pull out their wallet for anything

except to purchase fuel for their

vehicle.

A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF PROTOCOLS AND INSURANCE IN CASE OF AN INJURY

If there’s an incident, adults want

answers and not confusion. Youth

Unlimited has procedures in place

to make sure students are cared

for and God is glorified in the

process. Youth Unlimited also has

excellent secondary insurance

with Mutual of Omaha, but there is

paperwork to file and the parent/

legal guardian must be proactive

after the student returns home.

LONG-TERM IMPACT

Youth leaders want to know that

their group’s work mattered.

They also want to help their own

students integrate what they

learned into their daily lives. In

the Student and Leader versions

of the Spiritual Life Guide and in

the Digital Resource Box, Youth

Unlimited supplies a Post-Trip Plan

to help with follow-up.

Have more to add to this list? Let us know by scanning the QR code to visit our forum!

youthunlimited.org | 27

MY LIFE HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED BECAUSE I KNOW GOD IS GREATER AND MORE POWERFUL THAN I EVER IMAGINED.

—Student, Holland, MI Serve

SERVE WAS A SPIRITUAL REPRIEVE FROM EVERYDAY LIFE, A TIME TO GET AWAY AND REALLY EXPERIENCE GOD AWAY FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE WORLD.

—Student, Heartland, KS Serve

I FEEL READY TO ONLY LIVE FOR GOD NOW AND GET RID OF ALL OF THE RUBBISH IN MY LIFE.

— Student, Plymouth Heights, MI Serve

I DON’T HAVE AN EARTHLY FATHER, BUT NOW I KNOW THAT I HAVE MY HEAVENLY FATHER.

—Student, Grand Rapids, MI Serve

WHILE ON SERVE I REALIZED HOW TO SEE JESUS MORE CLEARLY—THE WORK HE DOES IN AND AROUND COMMUNITIES EVERYWHERE.

—Student, Austin, TX Serve

28 |SPRING 2013

Certificate in YouthMinistrY

777 Garner Road East, Ancaster, ON L9K 1J4T. 905.648.2131 | F. 905.648.2134 | 1.877.779.0913

www.redeemer.ca

For more inFormation:

Rachel Janecek: rjanecek@redeemer.ca or 905 648.2139 x4544 www.redeemer.ca/youthministrycertificate

the prograM is designed for:Youth workers• Pastors• Volunteers in youth ministry•

High school teachers• Guidance counsellors•

youthunlimited.org | 29

YOUTHUNLIMITED.ORG

FACEBOOK.COM/YOUTHUNLIMITED TWITTER.COM/YUORG

WE LOVE TO KEEP IN TOUCH

ADDRESS: 1333 ALGER ST. SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49507 | PHONE: 616.241.5616 EXT. 3038 | FAX: 616.264.6682

30 |SPRING 2013

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Youth UnlimitedPO Box 1100Norwich, ON, CanadaN0J 1P0

Y O U T H U N L I M I T E D . O R G

Y O U T H U N L I M I T E D M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

THE STORY

hearlivetell

SUMMER 2013 | FINDING MY OWN FAITH | A PEEK AT 2014 | RESOURCE BOX