During the busy months of June to August, St. Luke's student ministry hosts its biggest events: Middle School Mayhem, Mission Trips, and Fall Kickoff. Middle School Mayhem, a weeklong day camp, brought together 80 students for fun, learning, and service centered around the theme of God's Kingdom. Our dedicated team of 30+ volunteers made this event an incredible success. 

For our summer mission trips, we organized two simultaneous journeys. One group of 30 middle and high school students and adults went to Kansas City, embracing the theme "Overflow" as they served locally. The experience was described as "life giving" by many. The other group of 30 high school students and adults embarked on a cross-cultural service trip to Belize, working with a local Nazarene Church on various projects. Students got to see and experience the beauty of a cross-cultural service trip where they made new friendships, grew in their faith, and saw that the world is both bigger and smaller than we sometimes think. 

After these events, we began planning our fall semester, focusing on small groups where over 250 students connect with each other and trusted adults. These groups create a safe and welcoming environment for our students. 

Reflecting on our experiences, I'm grateful for the trusted adults with servant hearts who share their time and effort with our students. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 12 resonate with me as he emphasizes the importance of diverse spiritual gifts within the church community. These specific verses stood out to me: 

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 

The success of our youth ministry relies on our amazing volunteers, each bringing unique gifts that combine to create something incredible. We could not do anything we do without them, and they are all gifted differently! Some excel at Middle School Mayhem, while others thrive on international mission trips, and still others invest weekly in small groups with the students. I feel blessed to share these experiences with such dedicated leaders. 

If you have yet to find a place to use your gifts, I encourage you to seek out a ministry to serve in. If you think Student Ministry might be a good fit, we would love to have you join us! 

---