Gateway Youth 'Change the World'

Twenty of Gateway’s high school students and six adult volunteers joined more than 300 youth and their leaders July 14-July 21 for a World Changers national construction project in Salt Lake City, Utah.

During the week, students spent their days painting, roofing, and repairing homes in the Salt Lake and South Salt Lake communities. In the evenings, the youth participated in worship, Bible study, and team-building activities.

World Changers participants learn what being “On Mission” really means throughout the week: becoming personally involved in meeting the needs of others while sharing the gospel of Christ.

After arriving at the project, participants were divided into work groups called “crews” with names such as “Square Feet,” “Cool Caulkers,” and “Goofus Roofers.” Each crew, composed of about 9-12 students and leaders from various churches, was assigned to work on the home of a community resident.

“It’s overwhelming. What these students are doing is a miracle in my life,” said homeowner Thomas Martinez. A World Changers crew replaced his roof and hung vinyl siding on his house. Martinez also said that he was going to have to buy bigger address numbers for his house, because he was not going to recognize it after the World Changers work is completed.

Meeting youth from other churches and learning how to serve as a team were highlights of the week, participants said. Others said they enjoyed getting to know the residents whose home they were repairing and being able to complete the construction projects.

“I know of no better experience for students,” said Gordan Davidson, the project coordinator. “The impact that World Changers makes is life-altering.”

“The pre-packaged approach makes it affordable and do-able for any size church,” Davidson said. “Wise is the youth minister who includes World Changers in his or her missions menu. It is the perfect way to move students toward a missions life-style.”

“World Changers provides an opportunity for students to gain hands on missions experience and give back some of what God has given them,” said John Bailey, Student Volunteer Mobilization manager. “The experience of servanthood is life changing.”

This summer more than 24,000 students were registered to participate in over 100 World Changers projects around the globe. Sponsored by the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Georgia, World Changers included not only the week in Salt Lake City but also in locations in cities from Alaska to Pennsylvania to South Carolina.