What does it look like to be connected to God, to one another and to our communities?
Those questions guided participants of SOAR, a three-day mission training program of Multiply, in Hillsboro, Kansas, March 14-16.
Geared toward youth, SOAR Hillsboro welcomed about 25 attendees, including families and individuals of all ages, to lean in and learn how to connect with God and others.
Heidi Quiring, mission mobilizer on Multiply’s East of the Rockies U.S. mobilization team, says having families participate made SOAR even better.
“It was encouraging to see the kids’ excitement as they did things that pushed them out of their comfort zones like prayer walking and praying for others,” Quiring says in a write-up of the event. “They didn’t hold back. They jumped right in with their childlike faith.”
“I could really feel the Holy Spirit moving in my life…”
Ebenfeld MB Church, Parkview MB Church and Hillsboro MB Church—as well as Peabody Christian Church—each hosted part of the event, and lead pastors from each church spoke during evening sessions.
But SOAR was about more than receiving training—it was also a hands-on experience. Participants helped at a food bank, assisted with work projects at Main Street Ministries and crafted with nursing home residents. In addition, attendees completed prayer drives and prayer walks. They even went door to door in the cold to hand out baked goods and pray for people, which many found inspiring.
Ashton Matlock, a freshman at Hillsboro MB Church, says:
“SOAR was such a great experience for the younger generation. Getting to see how we can help our own community was eye-opening. I loved going door to door and asking strangers what we could pray for (or) if we could pray for them. SOAR was so much fun to do with my friends, too.”
Connor Amstutz, a freshman at Hillsboro MB Church, adds: “During the prayer drives, I could really feel the Holy Spirit moving in my life and through my leader guiding me.”
Claire Matlock, sixth grader from Hillsboro MB Church, states: “I wish SOAR could have been all spring break.”
The impact reached youth leaders, too.
Cody Meyer, associate pastor of youth and discipleship at Ebenfeld MB Church, says he appreciated the local aspect of SOAR.
“We got to see the needs in our community as a mission field,” Meyer says via email after the event. “Prayer walking (or) driving was one thing we did that can easily be continued in my own life to keep my eyes open to the needs and people around me. I also appreciated that each evening we got to hear from different people in our community about how they are serving missionally in Marion County.”
Grant Shewey, youth pastor at Hillsboro MB Church, says his hope for unity was realized.
“My prayer for SOAR was for the three Hillsboro MB churches to be unified in mission and to gain a new perspective in seeing the needs of our community,” he says via email. “This happened in a powerful way at SOAR, and it was a fruitful time for our students. We’re seeing a culture being built of partnership and collaboration to serve and love our neighbors here in Hillsboro and beyond.”
SOAR attendees plan for change
At the end of the three days, Quiring surveyed attendees, asking what they learned and what changes they planned to make after the event.
Some responses included:
- Reading the Bible daily
- Starting a Bible study with friends
- Engaging in more prayer drives and walks
- Praying for people’s houses while driving past
- Sharing faith with more people
- Deleting social media accounts
- Starting a school-based activity, such as prayer time at lunch
- Evangelizing and praying with teammates
Looking for opportunities to continue serving locally
After the training, several participants reported feeling more comfortable and confident praying for others, discussing Christ and sharing the good news, according to Quiring.
April Suderman, junior at Ebenfeld MB Church, says:
“SOAR Hillsboro taught me that Jesus can work in the uncomfortable. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and shown how many ways there are to serve in my community, whether that be volunteering at a food bank, going door to door praying for people or just taking the time to have a genuine conversation with someone.”
Ultimately, SOAR provided an opportunity for discipleship.
“I believe if we want to see kingdom impact in our churches and communities, we must provide opportunities for youth of all ages to serve, be involved and be discipled,” Quiring says. “This involves everyone.”
This article has been posted by Christian Leader staff. The Christian Leader is the magazine of U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
