The Midweek Youth of Lennox Ebenezer Presbyterian took a break from their usual schedule of Bible study, games and worship on Wednesday, Feb. 21, to learn about the ministry of the Sioux Falls Union Gospel Mission (UGM) and to spend time in service to those in need.
Laura Thompson, UGM Administrative Assistant and children’s pastor, spoke with the 45 first through eighth grade students in attendance about UGM’s work to provide love and care to the homeless, the needy, and the marginalized sections of society. Looking to Matt 10:42 where Jesus teaches that those who give “one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple… will by no means lose his reward,” encouraging the students to see how what seems like small gifts on our part can make a world of difference to those in need. Katana Thompson, the UGM Youth Advisory Board Coordinator also shared with the students that many of the friends who are served at UGM are their age, but often don’t know what their next meal will be, if they’ll have clean clothes for the next day, or even a place to sleep.
Students then took time to assemble almost 100 Outreach Kits for the UGM; hygiene kits containing soap, shampoo, chapstick, toothbrushes and toothpaste, lotion, combs and a pair of socks, all sealed up in a ziplock bag; items which the students had been bringing in for the last two weeks. (Special thanks to the Lennox Dental Center for donating the toothbrushes and toothpaste). The students then prayed over the Outreach Kits, that they would be a blessing to those who received them.
Ebenezer’s Pastor, Ethan Sayler, organized this project in order to introduce the students who come to the importance of showing the love of God to the world around us through small acts of mercy and kindness.
“Wednesday nights are filled with Bible study, worship, and a lot of fun games with our friends,” said Sayler, “but without service to those in need, the Christian life is incomplete. We remember that Jesus said that when we serve ‘one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ (Matt 25:40).”
The Midweek Youth at Ebenezer is a free program for all students in the first through eighth grades, and meets every Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.lennoxpca.org.