In 2018, our Senior class became the first class from the youth ministry to participate in an international mission trip. We travelled to El Jobo, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica through Praying Pelican Missions. We had the opportunity to come alongside the pastor in our community in sharing the love of Christ with the community of El Jobo.

Our mission trip was designed to meet the needs of the community. We spent time pouring into elementary age kids during our Vacation Bible School which focused on the story of Daniel, hosting movie nights, praying with those in the congregation who desired prayer, giving away bags of food to those in need, and playing hours of Futbol (American Soccer).

In 2018, our Sr. High travelled to Memphis, TN to participate in Collide through the Center for Youth Ministry Training. Collide is not a camp and not a traditional mission trip but a third kind of mission experience that partners with local organizations within the city.

Collide has four key components. It provokes disorienting dilemmas – experiences and quandaries that upend our usual ways of explaining the world and the thin answers of faith that we too often rely upon. Collide gives youth and adults the space and resources to work together through these dilemmas in an environment of discussion, worship and theological reflection. Collide explores theological themes in ways that make sense and matter to youth and adults to help them understand themselves, their world, their calling, and their God in new ways. Collide encourages youth groups to take the experiences and discussions of Collide back to their congregations and youth ministries to instill a new way of life for their ministry.

As the waters recede, the impact of Hurricane Harvey is hard to put into words. Much like the Baton Rouge flood in 2016, thousands of homes have significant water damage, displacing families across the city.

In 2018, we travelled with Praying Pelican Missions to partner with Pastors Army in the Houston area to support them in long-term efforts. Our middle schoolers assisted with cleanup, clearout, and repair of water damaged homes, as well as helping the local food bank with food distribution.