A group of 40 youth and adults from First Baptist Church, Duncan, traveled to Palmer, Alaska, in early June to participate in a World Changers mission project.
During the weeklong event, the Duncan group served with 100 other participants from Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina and Virginia.
Church groups were blended into 11 work crews that performed renovations on substandard houses, such as roofing, siding, painting, building decks, porches and handicapped ramps. The overall Palmer project was a huge success and by week’s end, more than 22 projects had been completed on 11 homes.
“Just as important as the work that was accomplished on the homes, was the opportunity to spread the gospel and share the love of Jesus Christ with homeowners and those in the surrounding neighborhood,” said Kevin Bowers, Duncan’s minister to students.
“Each night, students and adults participated in a worship service, and on the final night, homeowners and neighbors were invited to supper and a celebration service at the school,” he added.
Bowers views the trip to Alaska as an opportunity for students to get excited about missions by offering them an experience they would not normally have.
“I am driven with the desire to show students more of the world, to impact their understanding of missions and the opportunity to serve others,” Bowers says.
While the Alaskan trip was unusual and will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of those who went, Bowers’ goal was to ignite the spirit of missions in the heart of each student so that it will become an integral part of their lives as they serve in the community in which they live.
“We must teach our students what our mission is and give them every opportunity to grow into a Great Commission lifestyle,” said pastor Lamar McAbee.
What did Bowers see accomplished in the hearts of his youth?
“I saw the hearts of students touched by the magnitude of creation that God has offered his people in Alaska. This is offered not only through the mountains, wildlife, and the beautiful waters and scenery, but also by the people of Alaska. They were truly blessed and appreciative of the job that our students did while serving them in their homes. This was a landmark trip for our student ministry!”