Kentucky WMU helps churches learn, pray, give, go and send! This includes sending student missionaries.
This summer Kentucky WMU has helped churches send students, children and leaders through Kentucky Changers, Acteens Activators, and Mission Adventure for Kentucky Kids.
Just two weeks ago, a team of Acteens Activators was sent by their churches to serve with Kay Bennett at the Baptist Friendship Center in New Orleans. Kentucky WMU organized the trip, but it was churches that sent the student missionaries. These students led activities with children and adults, provided school supplies, and helped with a block party.
Churches sent students to serve through Kentucky Changers in Hopkinsville, Calloway County, Greensburg, and Frankfort/Lawrenceburg to help homeowners with work they could not do themselves. Many were elderly or disabled. Some just did not have the financial resources needed.
These homeowners were amazed that a group of teenagers would pay to participate in a week of missions work. The words “thank you” and “blessed” were heard over and over.
Our prayer is that these students will return home stronger in their own walk with the Lord and better equipped to be missionaries in their schools.
A part of serving with a student mission team sponsored by Kentucky WMU is training on how to share your faith. At Kentucky Changers, students spent time learning how to use a “colors of faith” bracelet to share the gospel. They wrote their personal testimonies and were encouraged to share their stories.
When students gave away a bracelet, they reported to Mrs. Peggy, who would ask them to tell her about that experience and what it meant to them. Then they were given another bracelet to do it again.
I want to thank the adults who came with the students on these mission trips. The mentoring that has taken place is phenomenal. To watch the interaction between the adults and students, as they laughed and teased each other one minute, and then discussed serious topics and prayed together the next, touched me deeply. I have watched adults this summer who care deeply about students and demonstrate it by spending time with them, making mission trips possible.
On the last week of Kentucky Changers, I met two older ladies, who had come as chaperones with the girls from their church. They were having a blast. They both told me that they were not sure exactly what Changers was all about, but were willing to give it a try.
One told me that she had never worked with teenagers before, always having taught younger children. “Now I am in love with teenagers,” she said. All from spending time and getting to know the students—and letting them know her.
This is Kentucky WMU! The Eliza Broadus Offering has been at work all summer. Thank you for your gifts which have helped make these and other missions opportunities possible.
Joy Bolton is executive director-treasurer of Kentucky Woman�s Missionary Union, P.O. Box 436569, Louisville, KY 40253; (502) 489-3534; kywmu.org
Joy Bolton