Helping hands
Rusk youth group finds it's better to give than receive
BY LELAND ACKER STAFF WRITER
For some, helping others is what they do. For others,

it is who they are. For the youth group at First Baptist Church in Rusk, it is who they are.

"Our goal is to create an environment where students are able to share their faith through their actions, words and have a servant's attitude in sharing their faith through their actions," said Jason Hoffman, youth director for First Baptist Church.

To cultivate that atmosphere, Mr. Hoffman said FBC youth are taken to retreats in the fall and spring, and a camp in the winter to learn to share their faith with their words. He said they learn to share their faith through their actions by community service.

That is why, when it was suggested five years ago that the FBC youth group help the community by cleaning up and helping the elderly and disabled maintain their yards, it was a perfect fit for Mr. Hoffman's mission.

"I figured, 'why not?' We have a great workforce with the kids," he said, explaining that FBC's youth group functions so well in this capacity because they enjoy being together.

Mr. Hoffman said most of the work the youth do is in Rusk and consists mainly of doing yardwork for the elderly. In some cases, the group helps bring property back into compliance with city ordinances. In others, the group maintains the grass so that elderly residents can focus on their gardens.

"There was a widow who was unable to mow her yard," Mr. Hoffman said. "She could tend to the flowers, but she was unable to mow. So two of our boys (Ben Thompson and David Robbins) mowed her yard all summer long. She got yard of the month and they were so excited."

Mr. Hoffman said last summer, the youth performed 30- 35 projects, with 30 students involved.

"They've done light painting, brush clearing and hedge trimming," he said. "We ask (those receiving help) not to pay. Sometimes they do. When they do, we give it to the church. No part of what we do says we expect anything in return."

Mr. Hoffman said in addition to working around Rusk, the FBC youth group will take a mission trip every summer.

"One year, we'll do a work project, the next, we'll hold a vacation bible school," he said.

Mr. Hoffman said the community involvement is an integral part of the youth's discipleship program.

"We want to be purposeful in setting roots in the Word," he said. "Prayer, Bible study, and service help us to grow and mature in our faith. We have smaller groups who meet for more intense study."

Mr. Hoffman credits the spiritual growth of his youth group to their upbringing in the church.

"They have a heart to see God change the world," he said. "That's the result of them being trained up from the time they were little. When they get to junior high, they are given the opportunity to be a part of that change (through the service of FBC)."

Mr. Hoffman said as a result, sixteen of his students feel called into some phase of ministry. With those students, Mr. Hoffman said the Bible studies become more intense.

"We talk about stuff that wouldn't cross others' minds," he said. "These are kids who challenge their parents to grow."

Mr. Hoffman said youth ministry is changing as the youth become more connected through cell phones and MySpace pages. He said that has allowed him to stay more connected as well. More information on FBC can be found at www.ruskfbc.com.

The First Baptist m

Church youth group poses after attending camp. The youth group learns to express their faith through their actions by volunteering to help the elderly and disabled with yard work and various odd jobs.