The youth group and adult sponsors from First Christian Church of Edwardsville, IL recently returned from a mission trip to Kansas City Metro. The thirty-five who went on the trip were graciously hosted by St. Andrews Christian Church in Olathe, KS.

By taking our youth group to another geographical area for these service projects, it gives them an opportunity to escape their routines that can often hinder the ability to expand their view of the world. Working together as a team helped them to gain an understanding of what it means to come together as a community while helping those who need assistance.

The youth participated in a variety of different service projects at four separate organizations while in KC: Community Linc, Urban Christian Academy, KIPP, and ReStart. Half of the youth group spent the day cleaning classrooms, painting walls, washing buses and assembling classroom furniture. The other half spent the day cleaning transitional apartments, tearing down plaster walls, and furnishing them for guests who would soon be accepted into the program. We were also blessed to prepare and serve dinner for over 200 residents at a transitional homeless shelter. In addition to serving others, the group went ice skating, sampled some KC BBQ, and visited both the National World War I Museum and the Hallmark Visitor's Center.

Sunday, February 26 during both worship services, each of the six members of the youth council shared their reflections on the mission trip with the congregation. It was a joy to hear the similar and the unique ways that we encountered the living God while growing together in our faith community.

We are grateful to receive support from our congregation as well as all of those who organize and attend our annual Jack H. Enloe youth scholarship golf scramble and our annual youth trivia night fundraiser. God is great!

Story and photos courtesy of Rev. Jeff Wrigley, Associate Minister.