Junior High

Thirteen First Covenant students (entering grades 6-9) plus five high school “Jr Leaders” took a two day “trip” experiencing and serving at various Ministry sites in the Rockford area July 19-20. Day One began early with the students making and serving a pancake breakfast to 50 guests at Carpenters Place, helping to organize a storage area and receiving a very informative tour of CP. After lunch at Restoration Café, Chaplin Sowell from the Rockford Jail Ministry shared about the Bible Study Ministry for prisoners and the group was given an extensive tour of the Jail.

Located across West State Street is the Rockford Rescue Mission where students again had the opportunity to learn more about homelessness in our city. After dinner there was a Guided Prayer Tour to various sites and the Team prayed for those that work, volunteer, or are served at these places: Viet Now, NIWC (Abortion clinic), businesses located on Broadway, Crusader Clinic, RRM Resale Store, Patriots Gateway, Zion Lutheran Development Inc, Rock House Kids Church, Carpenters Place, Rockford Area Pregnancy Center, Rockford Jail Ministry and the Rockford Rescue Mission.

On Day Two, the serving experience continued as the Team painted at an urban church plant in Freeport. The Pastor was very appreciative of the hard work and serving hearts of the students. Many students also served at Kids Around the World compiling flannel graph sets for Ecuador. Lastly, the “trip” was completed at our own First Covenant as the Team helped with VBS preparations, moved equipment, put up tents, etc. The Rockford Mission concluded in the evening with parents joining for a time of “Sharing and Reflecting” by the students.

ROCKFORD MISSION QUOTES:

“I saw God at work through the homeless people that we met. Even though they had nothing, they were so willing to share their stories and were so grateful for each meal that they received.”

“I learned how judgmental I can be without knowing anything about another person.”

“Now, whenever I see people on the streets that are homeless, I feel really bad for them because they have a hard life that they have to live.”

“I saw how only God has the power to bring greatness through hard times.”

“I’m going to stop or reduce greatly my judgment from the outside about others.”

“I take more offense at homeless/racist jokes because I now know some homeless people and saw that they fit nothing to the jokes.”

“I learned that even people who live on the streets can love and be in awe of God just like everyone else can. I learned that I was lucky to have a home and that I shouldn’t look down on people who don’t have one.”

Senior High

Following the mandate in Matthew 25, our high school missions trip this summer was an unforgettable week of serving, interacting, and stepping out of our “comfort box” for Jesus. We partnered with CSM (Center for Student Missions) in Chicago and soon found ourselves in a whirlwind of urban serving. Besides serving at various Ministry Sites our team met each morning for devotions, ate dinner at different ethnic restaurants, debriefed after each Ministry Site, participated in an extensive Prayer Tour, experienced a city “Immersion” and much more. Thank you for your financial and prayer support for the Youth at First Cov.

MINISTRY SITES:

ROSELAND/PULLMAN BOYS & GIRLS CLUB Helping with activities at a day camp for at-risk children on Chicago’s South Side.

MARQUARD SOUP KITCHEN Helping serve dinner at a Franciscan ministry to poor and homeless persons.

CCO FREE STORE Organizing Cornerstone Community Outreach’s thrift store.

EPWORTH MEN’S SHELTER Helping at a housing shelter for homeless men.

ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY SOUP KITCHEN Serving and cleanup of the evening meal.

CSM MISSION QUOTES:

“I began to realize what it means when God says that He loves every single human being and how each one of those people are unique and valuable.”

“My perspective on the world has been completely changed. I am no longer afraid to speak what I believe is true or to stand up for my God because there is no time to waste. I know the world for what it really is and it has humbled me.”

“God completely unraveled me during the trip and He is now starting to put me back together with everything that I saw and realized on the trip. I think I’m changed forever.”

“I learned that I could really open up and come out of my shell to people who I never thought I would be able to talk to.”

“God has found ways to continually remind me of the children at the Boys and Girls Club. I saw God at work through the sheer joy and hope of the children in a dangerous neighborhood.”

“I learned the great reward of stepping out of my shyness.”

“God has taught me that the homeless population and myself are one bad decision from being in the same place, and I no longer can look down on them.”

“I will never stop praying for the two boys at the Boys and Girls Club that I promised to pray for.”

“ I saw God working through our HS group changing our hearts and minds and bringing us closer to each other.”

“The entire trip was sort of out of my comfort zone and having to immerse myself in all of the homelessness and poverty. I learned that I had a lot of things switched up in my mind such as putting homeless people below myself when really they deserve to be higher than me.”