This month we are talking about Unexpected Courage. This July our high school youth will be stepping into the unknown and learning to rely on the courage that only God provides when they embark on the 2023 High School Mission Trip. On Sunday, July 16th, thirteen students and 2 adults are heading to Kansas City, Missouri for a week of growing in faith and learning to be humble servants. For many of the students, this is their first out-of-state mission trip experience.

As the students and adults prepare for their trip, we covet your prayers for courage.

Here are some specific ways you can pray for us:

• For the courage to show compassion, grace, and mercy to each other as we grow in our relationships with one another.
• For the courage to meet and build relationships with new people, from others on the trip with us to those we meet in the community.
• For the courage to respond willingly to God’s calling and the tasks he places before us, even when they seem hard and too big.
• For the courage to ask God for patience (these weeks are long and tiring!).
• For the courage to show respect for authority.
• That the parents of the students on the trip would have courage and peace as they send their students on this adventure and are disconnected from their children for the week.
• For the courage to be uncomfortable, to step out in faith, and to embrace the new experiences that God gives us.
• And most importantly, that we would have the courage to speak the name of Jesus and reflect his love to those he has called us to serve.

This is the biggest group that we have taken on a trip in a number of years. We are so excited that God has also brought into our group some students that aren’t members of our church here. God is working in our youth ministry in some very exciting ways and we are so excited to continue to build that community this summer.

In addition to prayers, we are in need of financial support for our trip. Any donation will go towards scholarships for students and leaders, gas money and transportation, and various expenses on the trip. If you are led to help support our students, you can make a donation on our website or through the Elexio app (choose “YOUTH” in the drop down menu). You can also leave a check in the office (write “mission trip” in the donation line).

Thank you for your support for our young people. It is such a blessing to be in a place where youth are seen as the church of today and are encouraged by the entire body of Christ. Stay tuned for the August date when students will share their stories, pictures, and testimonies. If you have any questions, please contact Emily at [email protected].