Imagine teenagers, armed with hammers and paint brushes, descending upon dilapidated homes in Stark County, Ohio. Kevin Thomas, the coordinator for the Stark County network, has been steadfast in teaching his teens to serve the Lord by helping those in need of home repairs. Starting with yard projects, planting flowers and cleaning out gutters, they are now helping to paint houses.
Serving Together
The Stark County Youth Network (SCYN, pronounced "skin") has existed for over 20 years in Canton, and is about linking up with other youth workers for mutual support, spiritual growth, sharing resources, and reaching young people. They have been helping teenagers serve the community through an organization called "Hammer and Nails".
Hammer and Nails
Hammer & Nails Inc.' mission is to assist struggling Stark County homeowners with home and property improvements. But the excited teens who came in teams to do the work also made a difference in the quality of life and living conditions for these homeowners, often spending time with homeowners who shared their life stores, creating friendships and memories. These teens recognized that ministry is about relationships.
Here is what Darlene Leghart from Hammer and Nails has said about the Stark County, Ohio Network:
"Youth pastors from theStark County Network – and their students and families – have been instrumental in helping Hammer & Nails become a viable resource in the community. Each person made a difference in someone's life. And they keep coming! Many of those churches have both teens and adults coming to serve in a variety of ways. On project sites, mailings, fund raisers, office work and finding supplies and project donations, the keep giving back to their community."
Empowering teenagers
For instance, Tammy Lawson brought her teens to work on yard projects, and is now painting interiors and exteriors of houses. Tammy first came as a student from Malone College, and is now serving at the Friends church in Hughesville, Penna. She has since brought youth from Pennsylvania for week-long mission trips and utilized Hammer and Nails' retreat center for housing. They slept on the floors - and then ordered bunk beds for thecenter on the way out the door!
Also, Joe Troyer from Hartville Mennonite First, brought a team of teenagers to serve. Now, the entire church is committed to several projects a year. They come in teams 50 strong, ranging in age from middle school age to 70 years and older! Some are highly skilled carpenters who have built porches and decks.
More than just serving
Now SCYN is not just about work projects, however. They also have cooperated to do:
- "See You after the Pole" rallies
- Praise & Worship Nights with prayer for student ministries
- Consecration of prayer for local schools at the beginning of the year
- "Seismos" retreats for youth leaders since 2009
Because of their leadership, the network is impacting the lives of people in their county for the kingdom.