By Kristi Hepp, Sacred Mission Church Worship & Student Ministry Director

During the month of May, “The Well,” our ministry for 6th-12th grade students, gathered together every Sunday night for what we called “Campfire Movie Night.” Our church partners with another church in our small town, Collins, Iowa to reach students in our town.

When COVID-19 caused us all to stay home beginning in March, we started meeting online with our students and their small groups. But as May came around, we felt an outdoor gathering would be a great way to start the process of coming together again.

SACRED MISSION CHURCH

Reaching students in collins through “Campfire Movie Night”

A life socially-distanced from others is a hard life to live, even for a generation so digitally connected. We knew many of the students in our area were desperate to be with others so we jumped to create a fun event that would also lead to gospel conversations. Every Sunday night in May, starting at dusk, we gathered outside to eat way too much popcorn and candy and watch “The Chosen” projected on the side of a trailer. If you have not heard of “The Chosen,” it is an amazing new series on the life of Jesus. We had so many students show up who had never stepped through the threshold of our church before, but longing to be with others, they came, learned about Jesus, and now have become a consistent part of our community.

I am so excited for the rest of the summer, as we are allowed the opportunity to share Christ with these students! I am reminded that God delights to use simple and seemingly “non-ministerial” gatherings to not only plant and water seeds, but make them grow.

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why give to the cooperative program?

One distinctive of Southern Baptists is that they come together to give toward greater ministry. The Cooperative Program is the way that we partner together to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ in our country and around the world.