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Slam Summer 2010

SLAM — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:56:30 +0000

This summer hundreds of youth (200) from 12 churches, 5 states, over a period of 4 weeks came to serve in Nashville with Students Living a Mission (SLAM). Not only were the youth able to interact with God’s word through Bible study, they experienced the stories first hand in serving those in need.

Mary

We met Mary, a 74 year-old widow, last year in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Nashville only ten minutes away from the SLAM headquarters. She expressed great needs she had but did not have the strength, finances, or knowledge to address her needs. With the help of hundreds of SLAM youth and youth leaders visiting her throughout the summer we were able to; prepare a condemned house for demolition, remove countless bags of discarded clothing, trash, and debris, and make her own home safe and healthy again. With the help of the youth we were able to fix dangerous electrical issues and install necessary building safeguards. Mary’s response to the youth was powerful, “I don’t know where you all came from but I think God sent you.” “You all have been an answer to prayer.” “We could have never done this without you!”

Pastor Martin

Located in Antioch, the congregation of this church is made up of Sudanese refugees. The building where they gather has several maintenance and construction needs. Nashville’s recent flood had damaged the roof, leaving 4 feet of water in the basement. This humble body of believers values their opportunity to gather together and worship but did not have the resources necessary to fix their roof or clean out their basement. With funds donated from other churches we serve with, 1/3 of the roof was removed, resealed and replaced. Pastor Martin, although aged and busy, was up on the roof in 100 degree weather serving alongside the middle school and high school youth in order to fix the building. After the roof was fixed, all the dry wall in the basement was torn out and replaced as well. Now this Sudanese body of believers can meet and worship the Lord together in a building with a good roof and a mold free basement—all thanks to the youth who served with SLAM this summer!

SLAM looks forward to serving the needs of our friends alongside the youth willing to be great in the Kingdom of God. If we want to really experience the life Jesus wanted for his followers, we must become the servants of all. When we serve those who have need around us, we look like Jesus. (Mark 9:35).

Here is a list of SLAM’s Ten Summer Outreach Locations…

Elderly Care

1) Mary’s House: Assisting a 74-year-old widow in major house renovations.

2) Joyce’s House: Assisting a 60-year-old woman in a much needed deep clean.

3) MDHA High-Rise Towers: Cleaning elderly high-rise apartments.

4) Trevecca Towers: Cleaning elderly high-rise apartments.

Refugee Work Projects

5) Sudanese Church: Major flood renovations for an East African Refugee Church.

6) Somali Restaurant: Renovating an East African Refugees local business.

Children’s Ministry

7) Turtle Creek Kid’s Week: Facilitating a kid’s week for 50 refugee children from over 10 different nations.

8) Hopewell Kid’s Week: Facilitating a kid’s week for 20 kids.

9) Antioch Together Kid’s Camp: Assisting in a summer kid’s camp that purposed to teach leadership skills to Nashville children.

10) Grace M. Eaton Childcare: Assisting in a summer daycare program that strives to provide education for all children in need.

North Raleigh NSHVLL Week

SLAM — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:49:21 +0000

The week began Sunday morning. Everyone gathered at a Somali restaurant downtown. Although the food there is amazing, the restaurant gets lost among the bustle of the city. It might seem like an unlikely place to start the week, but it was the kind of place SLAM loves, an overlooked treasure. Over the course of the week, students would help paint and restore the interior, bringing a smile to our friend, Nasra, the owner of the restaurant. It was fitting, then, to begin the week there. Serving the overlooked was the heart of this week. At the restaurant, we kicked things off with some music and teaching. Even as the bible was taught and we engaged in worship, we were all reminded that such activities cannot be disconnected from the needs of the people around us. From the Somali restaurant, the students jumped right into service projects. The week had several special opportunities for serving the underprivileged in Nashville. Work continued at Mary’s house. Students helped clean and organize her house, while spending time with her family; it has been amazing to see the progress, not just in the house, but in the brightened faces which live there. We also carried on with work at the Sudanese church. SLAM has partnered with them to re-build the damage the flood caused a few months back. Students worked in the blazing heat to repair their roof. It was a grueling task, but the students stepped up to the challenge. Everyone was encouraged by their effort and determination. Students also helped in the Hopewell neighborhood, doing yard work and cleaning for widows in need. All in all, over a couple of days, a lot was accomplished. When the service projects ended, the students returned to the SLAM headquarters for our evening activities. During this time, Ty challenged the students with the word. During the sessions, we learned that service is not something that only happens on special retreats, it is the life that Jesus has called us to; it is the life that Jesus himself lived out. And what a life it is! It was hard work, yes. But there was also a lot of joy and laughter along the way; Working together, students accomplished more than they thought they could. By doing so, students came closer to the heart of God, a heart that yearns for the restoration of all people.

Jr. High NSHVLL Week Aug 8-10

SLAM — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:38:15 +0000

SLAM will be hosting it’s second Jr. High mission week of the summer. 25 middle school students from North Raleigh United Methodist in Raleigh, North Carolina will join SLAM for a short week of service in Nashville, Tennessee. The students will be participating in 3 days of service to the elderly in Rayon City and a Sudanese Church in Antioch, Tennessee.