news-record.com

Did you ever think that you would go on a missions trip and have your hands bound like a prisoner? The Adams Farm Community Church Pre-Teen Missions Team experienced this in Manassas, Va., at GROUP Workcamps.

The 10-member team had their hands tied to learn how it felt to be captive.

They became more aware of ways they are held in bondage by technology, relationships, self-image and sports. One group member acknowledged that she started playing soccer because she enjoyed sports, but she soon became obsessed with winning. She thought more about making a goal than she did about God.

As the team prayed at the cross for freedom from bondage, they began to feel prepared to go out into the community and share Jesus’ love. Jesus had revealed himself to them, and now they would reveal Jesus to others.

The Workcamps theme was “REVEAL,” based on Luke
4:18-19.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Before the six-day trip, the eight preteens and two adults collected coins to buy canned goods for the hungry in the Manassas area, which has been severely affected by the struggling economy. The Adams Farm Community Church joined six other youth groups from six states at this work camp. The 75 participants donated more than 760 nonperishable items!

The dedicated youth also spread out across the Manassas area to serve in food pantries, plant flowers in low-income housing communities and landscape churches. These teams logged more than 1,300 volunteer hours.

When their work was finished in the community, the preteens would return to the Manassas First Baptist Church, their home away from home. The youth groups would take turns preparing meals and cleaning the kitchen.

Every day began and ended with worship and group devotions.
Several youth had an opportunity to share “God sightings” — ways in which they saw God working.

Jesus revealed himself many ways throughout this first week of summer break.