Nancy Taylor: Greene Publishing, Inc.
On Friday, April 28, the youth of the Madison Church of God spent the night in cardboard boxes in the parking lot of Ace Hardware. The purpose of this “camp-out” was to give the teens a greater understanding and compassion for homeless people and to raise money for an upcoming mission trip. Not only did the teens have to spend the night outdoors with nothing overhead, but a piece of cardboard, but they also had to relinquish all of their electronics for the night.
All of the money raised will be used to help Youth and Discipleship and World Missions (YWEA). YWEA began 54 years ago as a cooperative effort between Youth & Discipleship and World Missions. Over 57 projects have been completed and over $36,000,000 raised nationwide by the COG young people. It is the youth mission’s arm of the Youth & Discipleship department, which includes: Funding and supporting global youth ministries, building ministry training centers, rescuing and caring for children, conducting leadership and discipleship training, planting new churches, inner-city outreach, building and supporting orphanages, and disaster relief.
Concerning his reason for participating in the “Cardboard City,” Levi Carter (an 11th grade student at Madison County High School – MCHS) said, “I want to get the feeling for what others go through, but I know we’re still considered lucky out here, even though we have almost nothing (out here in the parking lot) because others have absolutely nothing.”
Crystal McCann, another MCHS 11th grader kept a spoon with her throughout the entire experience to remind her of the people who are hungry.
Bryan, a seventh grader, raised $60 for YWEA. “It sounded fun,” was the reason he gave for coming out to spend the night in the parking lot.
Tianna Knight, another seventh grader, raised $101.40.
Mary McCann is a tenth grade homeschool student who participated. “I wanted to do this to understand what homeless people really go through, “ she said. Members of MCOG will be taking a missions trip in July to work with YWEA.
If you would like to contribute to the mission trip and the ministry of YWEA, you can take it to MCOG between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday –Thursday. You can also call the church at (850) 973-3339 or e-mail Treglown at branton.treglown@gmail.com.