Memphis Mission Trip

What is it?

The Memphis Mission Trip has been a huge part of my spiritual life and has made a huge impact on who I am today. In general, multiple middle school students go with First Baptist Hendersonville to Memphis in order to serve the rougher parts of Memphis. We partner with Brinkley Heights Urban Acadamy in order to reach the area in the most effective way. According to  Streetreach.org

"Street Reach is a...nonprofit ministry located in an impoverished area of North Memphis, TN. For the children or youth in this community, drugs, gangs, crime and violence are not just stories seen on the news -- they are a way of life. 

Street Reach tries to impact these children's lives by meeting them where they are at and running Backyard Bible Clubs in their neighborhoods, where they feel most comfortable. Street Reach strives to meet the needs of the community and love them the way Jesus loves us."  

Preparation

 In order to prepare for this trip the main thing we had to learn was a specific scripture. This scripture goes as follows.

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:1-8

My Experience

All throughout middle school I went on this trip. I would say that the three times I was able to go are my fondest middle school memories. All of the camps that I have gone to were always great, but the mission trips were my chance to share what I learned.

In middle school, the experience is a huge part of my life. The opportunity to walk up to houses, knock on their door, and ask if their kids would like to come to a Bible Club is one that is both nerve racking, and extrodinary. I was able to explore my personal faith, while helping in need kids grow in their faith (or even experience this faith for the first time).

I went into Memphis this year expecting more of the same experience that I did in middle school. Instead while I was able to personally impact the people of Memphis, I got to lead those leading the Memphis children. While looking over the people, I was able to experience God in an amazing way

Sources

1. Romans. NIV Bible. 2015. Print.
2. "Street Reach | S+R." Street Reach | S+R. S+R, 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.streetreach.org/>.