The Northlake Youth Group at Adelante Thrift
Written by Kristen Maxwell, Bhutanese Children's Ministry Director
You never know when a seed is going to be planted. God works in ways that we don't understand, and oftentimes his plan is beyond anything we can imagine for ourselves. Ten years ago, I accepted a position as a summer youth ministry intern at a church in Tucker, GA, a suburb of Atlanta. In that first summer at Northlake, I formed deep relationships, and this church, a 14 hour drive from home, became like family to me.
I returned to Northlake for three additional summers as a youth and kids ministry intern. Before walking with my friends at Northlake, I had never met a refugee, or spent much time with immigrants. During my second summer there, the Lord used Northlake's connections with the refugee community and in their neighborhood to plant the seed that has drawn me in to community with people from other places, and my life is so much better because of it.
Last week, Mission Adelante hosted the youth group from Northlake, a youth group that looks a lot like ours, filled with kids from many places. During their time here they served, played and learned alongside many of the Bhutanese Middle School students.
At Mission Adelante, we value relationships and partnerships and last week was a beautiful picture of this. We are grateful for the churches that support us both near and far.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (NLT)
Northlake Teens straighten up the library at St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Northlake teens prepare toiletries for distribution at St. Paul's Episcopal Church food pantry
Paul, youth minister from Northlake, teaches Northlake and Kansas City youth during Kids Club at Mission Adelante
Northlake teens serve at Adelante Thrift
important dates:
- June 30-July 4: Summer Break. No programs.
- July 7 & 14 (Bhutanese outreach), July 9 & 16 (Latino outreach): Bring A Friend/Get Acquainted nights. If you or someone you know wonders what goes on around here on a typical night of programming, come on up/bring him or her up to find out!