Teens learn generosity through community service

Students from First Baptist Church in Duncanville receive daily instructions during Generosity Week. (PHOTO/Molly Livingstone)

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DUNCANVILLE—The low buzz of a vacuum cleaner hummed as the aroma of cleaning products filled the air. Teenage volunteers smiled as they scrubbed ceilings, baseboards and tile—all because God loves them.

dunc gen cleanhouse400Skyleigh McKinley (left) and Ashley Rich, students from First Baptist Church in Duncanville, help clean a house during Generosity Week. (PHOTO/Molly Livingstone)Teens from First Baptist Church in Duncanville cleaned a neighbor’s house as part of Generosity Week. About 25 members of the youth group participated in local outreach opportunities, as well as other bonding activities.

Generosity Week

The church originally intended Generosity Week as a one-time event last year, Youth Pastor Greg Bowman said.

“The kids loved it so much,” he said. “It was such a great experience. We’ll see if it develops again next year.”

Organizers designed Generosity Week to teach students the characteristics of God and show those same traits to their community, Bowman said.

“We talk about God’s generous love for the world—to give without expecting in return,” he said.

The schedule included various service projects for the students, including work with Project Duncanville and Mission Arlington.

Teens from First Baptist partnered with Project Duncanville to reflect God’s grace to their neighbors, said Tannie Brantley of the faith-based benevolence ministry.


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A heart to serve

“It’s awesome to see their hearts,” Brantley said “They come with a heart to serve, and they’ve been able to tackle things.”

dunc gen lunchbreak400Student volunteers from First Baptist Church in Duncanville enjoy a lunch break during Generosity Week. (PHOTO/Molly Livingstone)Volunteer Rachel Raynes was grateful for the chance to humble herself and lend a hand to the community.

 “It’s a mission trip at home. There’s work that needs to be done right around here,” she said. “I know that if you can’t be a servant, you can’t be like Christ. That’s really important to me, because I strive to be like Christ.” 

Micaela Henson agreed. Generosity Week opened her eyes to other opportunities to tell people about Jesus.

“It definitely shows that you don’t have to go to a foreign country or another state,” Henson said. “There is mission all around us. I can do missions right here in my own city.”

 In addition to mission work, the group also watched faith-based films and discussed them.

“It expands their view of God,” Bowman said. “They get a glimpse of what God is doing around the world.”

Nathaniel Adams considered the week a blessing, because he had a chance to live out his purpose as a Christian.

Practicing what they preach

“It’s been awesome just doing what we preach about,” Adams said. “We’re doing exactly what we have learned. This is our mission.”

Bowman wants students to develop an everyday missions mentality.

“Being a follower of Christ isn’t just a Sunday-morning thing,” he said. “God has called you to be on mission every day. I want it (Generosity Week) to spark ongoing mission work. There are opportunities you can do all the time.”

Bowman encourages churches to take part in local missions too.

“Be creative,” he said. “Ask the question ‘How can we show love to our city?’ It doesn’t have to be about expecting anything in return.” 


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