Summer of ministry, summer of love

SAN DIEGO — When asked what he did for summer missions this year, Jeremy Lavender didn’t have to think twice.

“Man, what didn’t I do?”

Lavender, a member of the Baptist Campus Ministries at Georgia Southern University, was part of an innovative group of Georgians who established a summer beachhead among churches needing to expand their youth ministries. He and 10 other students were on special assignment with the San Diego Baptist Association to help develop those ministries.

While Lavender was helping out a Saturday church car wash in Vista, other collegians were scattered across the sprawling association in a variety of ministry settings. For example, Lekan Oyapero was helping youth clean the grounds of New Seasons Baptist Church in Spring Valley and Sarah Barker was sharing her faith at a block party for Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon.

As they worked behind the scenes, in many instances, the students were networking with communities to attract unchurched youth to their fledging ministries. Dwight Simpson, director of missions, said the Georgians were “the SEAL teams who established the beachhead for those who will come after them. Next year’s teams will build on the foundation laid this year by these college students.”

Simpson said San Diego’s churches are similar to those in other parts of California – small by Deep South standards and staffed by two or three individuals – many times who are bivocational. That lack of skilled leadership means some congregations struggle more than others to reach their communities.

The San Diego experiment was different because of the way it broke the mold on more traditional summer missions approaches. In most instances students would be assigned as itinerant Vacation Bible School workers, rotating among congregations for ten weeks.

But Simpson wanted something different; students who would be assigned to one church for the entire summer and work to establish youth ministries that could be handed off to local church members when the students returned home. Then the following summer, additional summer missionaries could build on that groundwork.

“This approach gives the younger generation the opportunity to create a ministry that is more relevant to the generation being served than if it were created by someone in their 40s or 50s. We are praying that these Georgians will leave behind a youth group of four, 10, or even 50 that will grow and thrive in the coming months,” he said.

It didn’t take long for the students, several who had never been to California before, to realize the differences in the West Coast culture.

“This is a very different style of ministry from what I experienced back home,” said Jill Stevens, who attends Valdosta State University. “This is definitely not the Bible Belt. The children I am working with have little or no church or even Bible background; it’s all new to them.”

Barker, who was working at the block party, agreed.

“It’s not just the kids who are growing up without a knowledge of the gospel; it’s their parents and grandparents who also have no experience with Christianity.”

Narri Cooper, who helped coordinate much of the ministry through the Association, said those observations were right on target.

“About 87 percent of San Diego is unchurched. To many of our people the church is just another building in the city, not really different from any other structure. That have never or rarely been inside and have no emotional connection to what occurs there.”

Gabe Bailie, who also attends Valdosta State, said he noticed the much stronger Hispanic influence on the city than what he encountered back in Georgia – even in Atlanta.

“There is diversity in Atlanta but those races have not shaped the culture like they have out here. There is a far greater blending of races and their cultures than anything I experienced in the South.”

Kai Dickson, who attends the University of Georgia and is a member of White Oak Hills Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, said she had never met a Filipino before her summer missions experience – when she was assigned to a Filipino church.

“I feel like I am doing foreign missions right her in the United States without leaving the country,” she said. “The people are just wonderful.”

Tiffany Holloman, who attends Augusta State University, had a slightly different experience. Rather than working in youth ministries she was assigned to a church that is making inroads into reaching an inner city community.

The neighborhood has a blend of trend-setters and young urban professionals with a median income from $75,000 to $135,000. Five years ago the neighborhood had the highest number of gangs than any other in the city. Now with the area being gentrified it has become more open to conversation on a variety of topics – and that includes religion.

“In this environment we actually stand out because we are different, so the residents give us a hearing,” says Pastor Jason Page of Ethos church. “We open our building to different artists who display their work and play their music and welcome the community to enjoy an evening with creative spirits.”

Being open to the community is how the church is slowly gaining an audience curious about the gospel.

“Tiffany has been a great blessing to our ministry this summer. She has shadowed me and I have been able to mentor her on how we try to reach a very difficult neighborhood.”

And, Holloman says she has grown as a result of the experience.

“If there is one thing I have learned this summer it is to expect the unexpected and be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and see how God wants to use you. I’ve learned how to trust God more and to share him wherever I am – and that includes when I return home. You don’t have to leave your state to be involved in sharing your faith.”

While the students were ministering to those around them, they were on the receiving end as well. Lindsey Atwater said she had never seen a tract before she was assigned to First Baptist Church of Clairemont. But it didn’t take long to learn how to use one after the church members taught her how to use them to extend her witness.

“I had never really been very confrontational, in a good way, in sharing my faith. Using the tract really helped me as we went out witnessing in different parts of the community.”

The collegians are praying that other students will consider summer missions work through their Baptist Campus Ministries next year – and that some will be assigned to build on the foundation that was laid this year.

“BCM offers so many opportunities to grow in your faith while on campus and during the summer on the field,” said Stevens. “There are so many opportunities to serve – and to be served. I saw how much BCM meant to my older sister and that’s why I wanted to be involved. It’s a chance to grow spiritually and make friends I know I will keep for life.”

Oyapero agrees.

“Summer missions is a great way to meet people and make a difference in their lives as well as your own. I learn something each year and grow in my faith. It’s amazing to look back over the summer and see where God has brought you in your faith walk and say, ‘Wow!’”