[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_vimeo id=”89433040″ mode=”normal” align=”right”] Almost two months ago, Crossings issued a challenge to everyone attending camp this summer – the #GIVE20 Challenge. The challenge was given as a way to begin praying and preparing for this summer’s missions offering. Crossings encouraged everyone to save one dollar a week for 20 weeks leading up to camp; in order to come prepared to give 20 dollars toward the Gospel work in Haiti.
This week, we spoke with Chad Lower, youth minister at First Baptist Church in Grove City, Ohio, whose group has joined the challenge. As a leader, he gave us insight into how his students have been doing, and ways to encourage others youth leaders to join the challenge!
1) What are some of the ways you have encouraged your students about the #GIVE20 challenge?
First, our student ministry has been involved with mission organizations in Haiti for a few years now. We’re in our fourth year of sending students on mission trips to Haiti, so our teens are already knowledgeable and active with Haiti missions in general. … Second, we emphasize that the current #GIVE20 Challenge is unique and superior to the giving at camp because it challenges them to think/pray about Crossings in Haiti for 20 weeks instead of a couple of days. Giving at camp is something that students don’t think about before camp, and quickly forget about after they get home, but this challenge keeps it in front of them for 20 weeks.
2) What does the #GIVE20 Challenge mean to you as a youth leader?
It’s a great, easy and simple way to get our students to cultivate a heart for missions with an accessible long-term giving strategy. It’s a great way to keep our teens connected with Crossings, Haiti and contributing to spreading the Gospel.
3) How have your students been doing with the challenge?
It’s been hit-and-miss. Some students faithfully bring in one dollar a week. Others perpetually “forget.” Others drop off 10 or 20 dollars at a time, so they don’t have to “think about it” every week, which kind of misses the point – that they do “think about it” every week!
4) Have you run into any challenges since starting #GIVE20?
What I stated above. Also, we don’t use jars – we have envelopes. With the size of our student ministry, jars seemed impractical in terms of number of jars needed, and being able to move them. We can’t just leave them out in public space for 20 weeks – money has a habit of walking away when that happens! So, we have someone man a table before and after our programs, and then the envelopes are placed in a box and locked up after the program.
5) How do you think participating in #GIVE20 will change your group’s experience at camp this summer?
I hope that through the challenge the time of actually giving the money will be a much more edifying and fulfilling moment of camp.
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