‘They really do have skill sets to do mission and ministry right now.’
youth, providing free tutoring and school supplies for at-risk children, leading arts-based worship services, raising awareness of the plight of homeless veterans, and sponsoring a fi rst-time youth global missionary to Haiti. Jessica Johnston, Emma’s mother,
Jake Houck (left) and Alex O’Shea led a Spark Team that collected sports equipment for inner-city youth.
make an eff ective project to help others and bring them joy.” Other Spark Teams are collect- ing sports equipment for inner-city
is a fi rm believer in the Spark Team approach. “As parents, and as the whole church, we need to look at children and realize that they really do have skill sets to do mission and ministry right now,” she said. Anika’s father, Bo Weav er, agrees:
“You need a strong parental and adult support system to give them direction and guidance, but you also have to give the youth the reigns.” Shirk points out the intergen-
erational benefi ts of the program. “Adults in our congregation are
so excited to help these kids live their passion,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful marriage of bringing our older generations together with younger generations of the church to help them work on their proj- ects through the T rivent grants, through generous fi nancial support and through mentoring. “My job is to point out where
God is working through them. I get to say, ‘Wow! Look at that connec- tion you made. Look at how God is using that spark in you.’ ”
Author bio: Blezard is assistant to the bishop and synod com- munication specialist for the Lower Susquehanna Synod, Harrisburg, Pa.
Altenburg, Trost organ at the Castle Church
Eisleben, St. Anne’s Church
Erfurt, St. Mary’s Cathedral
Where history was written ...
Halle (Saale), Luther bible
Luther year 2017 – 500 years since the Reformation
Magdeburg, Cathedral
“Routes to Luther” takes you to the places in central Germany closely associated with the life and works of the great reformer Martin Luther.
Photo courtesy of: Tourist offices of the cities of “Routes to Luther”
Schmalkalden, Town Church of St. George Torgau, Hartenfels Palace Weimar, Church of St. Peter and Paul
Eisenach, Wartburg Castle Wittenberg, Luther House
32
www.thelutheran.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52