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Calgary, Alta.
Teens choose inner-city ministry during NYC ’02


Teens from across Canada met in Calgary January 3-6 for NYC ’02, the national youth conference of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference. It was a time of worship, learning and recreation (See MBH, Feb. 8).

But a large number of teens chose toilet brushes over ski poles. For one-fourth of the 1100 attendees, their time in Calgary was also an opportunity to learn about, and be a Christian witness in, the inner city.

For the first time at the National Youth Conference, attendees could participate in one of two four-hour “Urban Plunges”. The events were coordinated by Youth Mission International, the short-term youth mission and discipleship ministry of MBMS International.

“It was amazing,” says YMI staff member Phil Serez. “We had initially planned for 150 kids to take part. In the end, we had 260 kids who chose to join the plunge rather than go shopping in downtown Calgary or ski in the Rockies.”

Each Urban Plunge began with a 45-minute orientation, where participants were prompted to think about how they could grow in their faith through the experience.

“We wanted each person to learn to enter into the world of the people they would see and meet, whether homeless or a business person,” says event coordinator Kevin Snyder. “We made sure they knew this wasn’t about window shopping or just having a good time.”

Some of the teams visited inner-city missions, learning about the ministries and serving where needed.

“Our group went to the Calgary Drop-In Centre,” a participant shared. “We cleaned a huge room that had over 80 beds. I was overwhelmed by the number of people that need shelter at night. I was impressed with the way the drop-in centre treated each client with dignity and self-worth. It made me question how I often feel too little [sympathy for] others.”

A skate park, downtown shops or the train station were other locations where teams did random acts of kindness and prayed for the people they met.

“Our group met Jacques,” another participant recalled. “As we were walking and talking with him, I sensed that our group should ask him if he would like to receive prayer. He said that he would be honoured to be prayed for. We laid hands on him, and Jodi prayed that God would reveal His love to him. As the prayer ended, Jacques’ eyes were welling up with tears and he began weeping tears of joy. He was so thankful for our prayer. We discovered later that he was suffering from cancer and was asking God to show Himself to him.”

A third participant recalled, “We cleaned toilets at Arby’s. I never knew that I could be so excited about cleaning toilets. After we finished cleaning, we heard the worship song “Here by the Water” – that we had sung in the worship session – playing on the radio.”

At the end of the two-hour assignment, the teams met together to share stories and pray for the people they had met.

“I was really encouraged to hear the stories of how the students learned to see with God’s eyes, feel with God’s heart and show the practical love of Jesus,” Snyder sums up.

At the 45-minute debriefing session, a teen shared about approaching the counter at Starbucks and being met by an employee who seemed to be having a bad day. “I told her that I didn’t want anything from her but I wanted her to take a flower because Jesus loves her, and [hoped she would have] a better day. As I gave her the flowers, her face lit up with a smile and she was very happy. She kept saying thank you through the glass as I walked away down the sidewalk.”

“We had kids cleaning toilets, sorting clothes and peeling potatoes,” says Serez, “and they were loving it. We watched kids gain a new heart for the people, for the pain that exists in the inner city.”

A weekend Urban Plunge into Vancouver in February and March was coordinated by YMI as part of mission courses at Columbia Bible College. YMI will coordinate a similar Urban Plunge for the US MB Conference’s Estes youth convention in Denver, Colo., in March 2003.

 – Brad Thiessen, MBMS International

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Last modified April 15, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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