EDGE

They Are Willing… Are We?

                                                                                          By Jim Ingersoll

They came. By the hundreds, they came—to help their fellow man and sister school in a time of desperate need. At an average of 152 students per day for six weeks and from all over the country, they came. It started with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when a desire arose within the hearts of Seventh-day Adventist young students and teachers to help the victims who had suffered so much loss from that devastating storm. But, no one knew where to go or how to help. However, God had a person, a plan, and a place already in mind.

Gulf States Conference received a phone call from David Canther, CEO and Founder of ACTS (Active Christians That Serve), out of Florida, asking where help was needed most. Bass Memorial Academy had sustained extensive damage, so it was determined that the academy would be the most logical place to locate their headquarters. The ACTS team arrived just hours after the storm had passed and, along with  Southern Adventist University and Andrews University assisted in recovery efforts for the Academy and six surrounding counties for the first week. Secondary education, within the Southern Union Education Department, was asked to coordinate schools wanting to assist ACTS with the ongoing needs of the academy and surrounding counties. So for six weeks, academy and college students took take care of unloading, sorting, and distributing supplies; prepared hot meals; and assisted in recovery efforts that could be safely performed by them.  

It soon became apparent that academy and college students were ideal partners to assist ACTS with disaster relief efforts. They had endless energy, didn’t care where they stayed, how hard the work was, or who got the credit for it. They just wanted to be the hands and feet of Jesus. During the past six years, thousands of youth have helped ACTS give assistance to countless victims of tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes throughout the South. They came and were changed forever. Two testimonials speak to the effectiveness of this life-changing approach to service. Administrator Debbie Baker says, "ACTS World Relief has created a platform for training servant-leadership in action!" And a student, Justin, shares, "ACTS has prepared me to serve, lead, and now train and mentor others, which changed my life forever."

We have been told that “inaction is the greatest curse that EVER came upon youth,” Testimonies to the Church, vol. 3, page 152. No wonder ACTS works so well for them. They are made for action, and it is critical that adults role-model and mentor youth through active service for others. Ellen White says, “It is because this work (service for others) is neglected that so many young disciples never advance beyond the mere alphabet of Christian experience. The light which was glowing in their own hearts when Jesus spoke to them, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee,’ might have been kept alive by helping those in need. The restless energy that is so often a source of danger to the young might be directed into channels through which it would flow out in streams of blessing. Self would be forgotten in earnest work to do others good…  They will not be longing for exciting amusements, or for some change in their lives. The great topic of interest will be, how to save the souls that are ready to perish,” Desire of Ages, pages 640, 641. Training and mentoring our youth to be involved in the vision, mission, and management of their church is the only effective way to keep them as members. They are willing! Are we?

Jim Ingersoll is Southern Union secondary education associate director.