Youth excited to serve inner city

What happens when you take close to 180 teenagers and their youth leaders, house them in North Kildonan MB Church, and release them to minister in the north end and inner city of Winnipeg? You have YMI’s SOAR HEARTLAND, March 25 to April 3.

This unique program was birthed in a vision that Lloyd and Carol Letkeman (members at Southpark MB in Altona, Man. and teaching at Mennonite Educational Institute in Gretna, Man.) had several years ago while on a Youth Mission International Action Team.

Early in the week I sat at the breakfast table with SOAR participants and asked what the highlight had been so far. One 17-year-old boy said, with tears in his eyes, “The foot washing service yesterday, because my younger brother came over and washed my feet. It was so moving and a huge answer to prayer. I prayed he would join me this year and he did!”

Later in the week I interviewed Rafael ‘Pablo’ Duerksen, a 17-year-old from the NKMB congregation on how it felt to be on a missions trip in his own city and church. He could hardly conceal his excitement at serving Christ through an inner-city ministry drop-in where very needy kids wanted attention and begged for shoulder rides continuously. This place of service caused him to be grateful for all God had given him, but also caused him to question how to give out of the privileged life he has. Rafael found the team worship and teaching sessions encouraging, and the two-hour intercessory prayer time for Winnipeg a highlight.

The way that God by His Spirit was alive and at work in this group of teenagers was a great testimony to what serving others can bring to our walk with Jesus Christ. The way NKMB embraced the SOAR HEARTLAND group by opening their building, rallying dozens of volunteers and asking their ministries to restructure for 10 days so that SOAR could take place in their church was a challenging example to all participants.

The event included teaching sessions by Philip Serez, Sherryl Koop, John Neufeld, Andy Wood, James Wilfong and Terry Hunt; worship led by Jon Loeppky and band; an urban plunge; a three-hour solo time and fast; and an inner city carnival and concert.

—Sherryl Koop