Observers agree – the city of New Orleans is one of the nations most
challenging environments, a true laboratory for missions work.
It was in this laboratory that almost 200 people recently were led to Christ
through the work of 800-plus youth.
Observers agree – the city of New Orleans is one of the nations most
challenging environments, a true laboratory for missions work.
It was in this laboratory that almost 200 people recently were led to Christ
through the work of 800-plus youth.
This summer, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted eight weeks of
MissionLab New Orleans, allowing youth to learn missions by doing and to encourage
and equip them to be missionaries at home. “We want them to understand
that God is already doing a work here that they can be a part of, but we also
want them to see that God is working around them at home, and they need to go
home and get plugged into that,” MissionLab co-director Darrell Lindsey
says.
Young people from across the United States were invited to participate in 117
projects at 22 New Orleans sites, including the French Quarter, where youth
handed out sandwiches, hygiene products and evangelistic literature to the homeless;
the Desire Housing Development, where youth led backyard Bible clubs; and the
St. Bernard Housing Development, where young people helped renovate a mission
youth building.
The results of their efforts have been overwhelming, Lindsey says. “Weve
seen 15 to 20 people come to Christ in the French Quarter,” he notes. “One
group in one week saw eight people saved through that ministry.”
Participating youth indicate they also were overwhelmed at Gods activity
during the MissionLab projects.
Jennifer, of Brandon, Fla., recounts the story of a prayerwalk through a hard
area. A woman seated on her porch called out to the walkers and said, “Hey,
come bless this house.” That night, the woman accepted Christ, Jennifer
says.
Several young people also made public their decision to follow Gods call
into the ministry during the MissionLab week. Lindsey says roughly five to six
kids a week talked about an interest in missions after their experience in New
Orleans.
“Jesus looked out across Jerusalem and … burst into tears,” says
Amber, of Brandon, Fla. “He was broken for people. Hes been calling
me to have a burden for people, too.”
While the stories may mirror those of most youth camps, the reality of their
inner-city surroundings brought the experience closer to home, Lindsey suggests.
“There was this one girl from the St. Bernard Housing Development who
was having her face painted. And while she sat in the chair, the police did
a drug raid on her house. I remember one of her friends coming up to her and
saying, Theyre taking your mama to jail. Arent you going to
cry?”
Lindsey remembers the little girls response – “Why should I cry
every time she goes to jail?”
“The next day, she and her family were forced to move out of the housing
development,” Lindsey notes.
While many young people admit the inner city was a frightening place to imagine,
Lindsey says MissionLab is able to offer a safe environment by providing site
coordinators and counselors who are trained for inner-city ministry, as well
as extensive orientation with the young people. The only real challenge for
youth was ministering to a people group largely unreached by the traditional
church, Lindsey says.
“Before I got here, I was really worried about our groups safety,”
says Andrew, of Augusta, Ga. “Since Ive been here, Ive never
even once felt in danger.
“If God can remove my fear of danger in the projects of New Orleans, he
can remove my fear at home.”
With the success of this first year, MissionLab leaders are focusing on a greater
vision – making MissionLab a year-round program and including missions opportunities
for adult groups, senior citizens, as well as families.
It is a vision rooted in ministry, Lindsey insists.
“The people in the housing developments want to build lasting relationships.
They want love, and thats what MissionLab participants have been giving
them. Sometimes sharing the gospel begins by giving a kid a hug.” (BP)