The Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia hosted 21 Grace College students from Winona Lake, Indiana, for the SUM (Studies in Urban Ministries) Invitation Weekend with the purpose of exposing the students to urban ministry and challenging them to ask God what He might have them do to reach the city.
It was an amazing weekend where nine students committed to serve God in the city after college and many more are now open to being used by God in the city.
During the weekend the group reached out to the neighborhood by doing prayer walks and installing smoke detectors. The group also spent time praying and interacting with those addicted to heroin and other drugs. This was the first time many of the students had been exposed to the difficulties people face in the city, but in the midst of difficulty, Christ works and changes lives. Here are a few comments in response to asking what was their favorite part of the weekend.
“Honestly it was all so eye-opening! I loved getting to minister to people on the streets and loving on them.”
“Giving pizza to the homeless was most humbling.”
“Going out of my comfort zone to talk and pray with people.”
“Talking to anyone and everyone about Jesus.”
“Working with the kids at Kingdom Kids.”
“Interacting with people in the community and hearing their stories.”
“Getting to help out with Kingdom Kids. I loved being reminded how excited I should be about Jesus.”
If you are interested in learning more about the training Urban Hope offers to college and post-college-age individuals and how God might use you in the city, please email James@urbanhope.net to get information about upcoming SUM invitational weekends as well as other opportunities to be involved at Urban Hope. — from cenational.org