LCMS Youth Ministry offers summer Servant Events

Registration is now open to youth and adults for more than 40 LCMS Servant Events in the categories of construction, human care, environmental, outreach, multicultural and crisis. Many are offered more than once and at various times.

Most of the opportunities to serve others — from a few days to several weeks — are available in May, June, July and August, and include activities such as:

taking part in urban ministry in Massachusetts or Missouri.

helping lead a multicultural vacation Bible school in Colorado or New York.

working on light construction projects for elderly, low-income and disabled people in Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico or Virginia.

working with underprivileged children in California, Michigan or North Dakota.

At a five-day event in Woodland Park, Colo., participants age 14 and older will backpack five miles to the Platte River “to clean up after extensive usage has left this place in need of a facelift,” according to the Servant Event website.

At an 11-day event in July, groups of seven (five youth and two adults) will meet at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Asheville, N.C., and help Appalachian families with general home repair, painting and digging new septic-tank systems.

Although most of the Servant Events are designed for high-school-age teens, three are available to middle-school students.

Jim Lohman, director of Servant Events for LCMS Youth Ministry, notes that in the 30-plus years the program has been offered, participants have made an “amazing” impact on people’s lives through their service.

“There’s been a little phrase that’s been a part of Servant Events for many years, and it’s ‘Leaving your fingerprints of faith,’ ” Lohman says. “So, as young people serve in their settings, that’s what they’re doing — they’re sharing the joy, their love for Christ and their ‘fingerprints of faith’ ” with those they serve.

“The need is always and everywhere” to help others, Lohman adds. “We just want people to know and go.”

Registration costs vary, depending on the event, and typically include housing, meals, local transportation, materials and a T-shirt.
View LCMS Servant Events
Posted Feb. 20, 2018