Filed under: Ashland Church, Cherry Hill, children, christian, church, Family, giving, kids, making a difference, missions, NJ, serving, South Jersey, Voorhees | Tags: camden, children, good samaritan, NJ, urban ministry, youth on the move
Last night at church our youth director spoke to our kids about ministering to those in Camden, NJ and specifically about Urban Promise (featured on ABCs 20/20 and Extreme Home Makeover). He and some of the youth told about their trip there last summer (they’re going back again in August).
Since he is used to talking to teens and not kids, he thinks he didn’t do so well. I think it was great. He shared very honestly with our kids about what life in Camden is like. He talked to them about poverty, about people living below what we feel the standards should be. We saw pictures of many boarded up homes and buildings, he shared how at the summer camp they helped at, they provided breakfast and lunch and that may have been some of those children’s only meals.
What struck me most was when he talked about the parable of the good Samaritan and how sometimes we as Christians, our local churches that are only seven miles away or a twenty minute drive are like those who left the man for dead along the road, as we pass through in our busy lives to our next destination. We need to be like the good Samaritan. Not coming into to change things but coming alongside to help.
We also had the privilege of using our craft time to make witness bracelets and dental hygiene kits for another Camden Ministry, Youth on the Move.
I believe his talk impacted the children and the leaders as we listened. Thank you for sharing.
Learning as we Grow 