Dear JSAW Family, Have you ever tried to teach a puppy to sit, roll over, or most importantly, not to pee in the house. It is not easy, but when they learn it is a relief and a proud moment. Puppy training may sound a little extreme, but I feel sometimes like a puppy trainer when working with riders in action sports. They ride their skateboards in the shop, talk during Bible study, and are constantly focused on themselves. This past weekend we performed a service project at the local ski resort, Hyland Hills. This project was designed to be simple and yet creative. The opportunity we wanted to take hold of was to give riders at JSAW the ability to get outside of themselves by serving someone else. Servant leadership is a value we hold onto dearly. Jesus says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Over the past month and a half none of the riders offered to help with the service project even though we were constantly advertising the event. I was so happy to see 7 guys show up on the actual day. A local bakery donated gourmet brownies and peanut butter bars. The event was called Brownie Points. The object was to give back by awarding lift operators and PSAs (Public Safety Assistants) “brownie points” for standing out in the cold everyday so Hyland can stay up and running. At first the riders saw the idea as corny and cheesy, but as time went on they were fighting over who got to hand out the next dessert. I know this does not sound like a largely impactful service project, but for most of the riders it was a big deal. In the Bible it says, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?…So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17). My prayer is that this service project led each JSAW participant into a more active relationship with Jesus, as well as that the Hyland employees’ hearts become captured by the small gesture of young riders serving in Christ’s name. This was a proud moment for me as a spiritual trainer and I pray for more moments like these.
Have a blessed day, Jake Tastad, Program Director
SFC Director Mitchell Bowser handing out a brownie. Sam Atwood a local rider spreading some
love with a delicious treat.
Yorumlar