Indiana Teens Mission-Minded

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- It's that time of year again when teenagers throughout the country are making plans to hit the beaches for a week of fun and sun during spring break 2006.

However, the white sandy beaches of Florida's Gold Coast aren't the destination of 11 adventurous teens that attend one of Fort Wayne, Ind.'s newest churches, The Pointe. Instead, they've chosen to visit a third-world country.

Just six months after its grand opening, The Pointe Church is sending its first-ever mission team to the smallest country in Central America. From Marc. 31 to Apr. 7, a group comprised of 18 students and adults will run numerous programs and assist in several building projects in the small mountain town of Tepecoyo, El Salvador. There, the group will help earthquake-stricken churches and assist in repairing damage caused by a recent hurricane.

This group has successfully raised more than $18,000 to make the mission trip a reality -- no small feat for a church so young.

"Our culture often thinks of a teenage spring break trip as a hedonistic free-for-all on the beach, and that's often what occurs when adults don't create the opportunities for teens to serve," explains Lead Pastor Ray R. Harris. "[But] teens want to make a difference. They want to have an impact. And when adults say to students today, 'We'll support you as you help the poor -- we'll give so you can make a difference,' they not only allow students to make an impact on others, they also provide a very strong alternative to the ordinary self-destructive free-for-alls."

In addition to these building projects, the group will also run several programs for children, putting on puppet shows, skits and other activities for the children of Tepecoyo.

Most importantly, the group will have the opportunity to share Christ with the people through programs, and also through door-to-door evangelism.

"To help prepare for this, the group has memorized 15 verses that will help them lead the people of El Salvador to Christ," explains Dillon Kimmel, student leader for this year's trip. "I loved my last trip to El Salvador. It was a life-changing spiritual experience, and I have treasured it ever since.

"When I was asked to lead this year's trip it was a no-brainer," Kimmel admits. "I'm so excited not only to see God do amazing things with the lost people in El Salvador, but also to see the lives that will be changed among the members of the group. I know God has amazing things in store for us."

Group members going on the trip include Dillon Kimmel, J.T. MacLeod, Mandy Armstrong, Caleb Kimmel, Ray Harris, Amanda Beers, Nate Murphy, Lauren Wagner, Landon Wagner, Dick Emerick, Karen Emerick, Jeff Price, Kassi Galbreath, Scott Harris, Brad Harris, Megan Nicolet, Doug Romey and Lori Christner.

For more information, log on to www.ThePointeChurch.Net.