M.O.V.E. 2012 service, learning experiences challenge 250 students
On March 30-31, 250 students and youth workers from throughout the Northwest Conference converged on First Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN, for M.O.V.E. 2012—a weekend of teaching, worship, service and experiential learning. This year’s theme was “TRU: Faith. Justice. Love.”
The weekend kicked off with a worship service that featured praise music and a challenging message from Chris Brooks, vice president of GoodCities and organizational leadership expert. Brooks asked students to consider their responsibility to others, and to think about who the orphans and widows of today are.
“Once you have yourself figured out, and love yourself, Jesus is always going to push us to overflow,” Brooks said.
Before heading to bed Friday night, students spent time with their youth groups preparing for the next day’s experiences and enjoying games facilitated by the staff of Lake Beauty Bible Camp.
On Saturday morning, youth groups fanned out to 17 different agencies and ministry sites across the Twin Cities for three hours of service, which ranged from preparing meals for homeless, to lawn care and clean-up projects, to playing with shelter kids, to the restocking of supply shelves at thrift centers and distribution warehouses.
“The Dassel and First Covenant Minneapolis teams that came to Hospitality House Youth Development were amazing: hard working, responsive, great teens and leaders! We so enjoyed them and appreciate all their help,” said Deb McCullough of Hospitality House.
Saturday afternoon M.O.V.E. participants embarked on a Light Rail Tour of Minneapolis. Students and leaders were divided into eight groups and boarded the train near the Metrodome. At each of five stops between downtown and the Mall of America, groups got off the train and heard presentations about issues facing that part of the city, including: Immigrant Issues, Urban Development and Gentrification, The Historical Treatment of Native Americans, Human Trafficking and Homelessness.
“Our group had a great time, and they’re not always easy to please with this event,” said Mark Hakanson, youth pastor at Community Covenant Church in Minneapolis. “Thanks for all the hard work piecing together the light rail experience. It was a highlight.”
M.O.V.E. 2012 concluded with another powerful worship session and message from Brooks, who challenged students to “live the life” of a true Christian.
“There should be something about us as Christians that makes us different,” Brooks said. “Do you have a passion for the lost? Do you have a passion for those people you come into contact with every single day?”
Visit the Children, Youth and Family media page to see a video and photo gallery from the event.