“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” …When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” ~John 9:9,12-14
On Wednesday night, Aug. 30th, a group of 30 high school youth and adult chaperones gathered in Calvary’s parking lot. These youth split into groups, pooled their own money together, and began to pray about how God might use the money, and themselves, to build His Kingdom in our community that night. We call this ministry event 5 & 2 Outreach. John’s gospel records that it was the faith of a boy who was willing to give what he had to Jesus, not letting the seemingly impossible situation limit his faith. In the same way, in the face of such great need in our community, our youth gave what they had to Jesus and trusted that He would do a miracle.
Here is a list of some of the ways the youth impacted our community on the 30th:
- Paid for multiple meals for families at restaurants.
- Paid for people's gas.
- Bought flowers to take into Advocate Bromenn hospital and Evergreen nursing home where they spent their time getting to know the residents.
- Found out the needs of the local homeless shelter, and purchased those items for them.
- Contacted a few single moms from our church asked them if they had any grocery needs and supplied them (milk, bread, eggs, toilet paper, cereal, diapers, and more).
- Payed-it-forward at drive-thrus.
Anyone can do this type of outreach and have a temporary impact in our world. Our goal, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, was to be the hands and feet of Jesus so that our money and presence might have an eternal impact in our community. Over the few years that the youth have done this they have helped at least two people give their hearts and lives to Jesus!
About the Author
Michael Pitzer is the Director of Senior High Ministries at Calvary UMC