So as some of you know, last February our Student Ministries program did an event called “Change for Change”. We had a night of prayer and worship as we educated our students about the Human Trafficking Industry. It was an incredible night, as we raised over $1,000 in change. We watched as students brought in their life savings for a great cause. While there was some motive (I had to get cornrows and Mackay had to shave his head. Let’s not ever talk about this again), our kids came through in a big way and I think it ranks as one of my favorite moments in ministry.

The money raised went to the A21 Campaign through the End It Movement. For those of you that don’t know, A21 prosecutes traffickers and strengthens the legal response to human trafficking. They also provide legal counsel to every victim that comes through their program.

We are switching it up a bit and have decided that we could outdo last year, especially if we had more time, so here’s what we are doing:

We’re still rolling with Change for Change (get it, because you “roll change”? ugh…nevermind), but through our small group ministry. Each group has received a container that will collect money for the ministry/nonprofit of their choice. One month from today, each small group will turn in full containers. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

So each small group will choose what they will be raising money for and collect change as they meet each week in February. PLUS the group that raises the most amount of money will win a dinner for their small group AND the ministry they chose will be blessed. Yeah, we’re excited too.

So here’s where you can help:

Know someone in a small group? Or know someone leading a small group? (isn’t that person awesome? they put a lot of time into that, so thank them even if you don’t have a student in the program. they’re working hard to make better disciples in our church) Or don’t know anyone at all, but really want to donate change?

You can help by donating to one of our small group’s “containers”. Maybe they’ll even invite you to the dinner if they win! Just kidding…kind of. Maybe, I don’t know.

Anyways, you get a chance to be involved. Some of the nonprofits our groups have chosen are Lowcountry Down Syndrome, American Cancer Society, and two groups will be raising money to buy clothes for children who are in foster care.

In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for those in need (He talks a lot about that, but this is just the chapter on my heart right now). We aren’t perfect at doing this, but we are going to continue trying to live out the Gospel to the best of our ability. Bit by bit, we will be the change.