Big Sandy teens participate in 30 hour famine

Big Sandy teens
participate in
30 hour famine

BIG SANDY—From Feb. 21 to 23 the PRODIGALS youth group of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship made a mark in their communities. The PRODIGALS

We gathered on Friday night, Feb. 21, for a meal prepared for us by Jerome and Helen Ellard and began the weekend by watching the 30 Hour Famine video followed by a praise and worship service.

Guest speaker Joey Brannen, from New Beginnings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, spoke to us about sin in our lives. He then led us in communion in preparation for our 30-hour fast. We began our fast at midnight.

We were going to sleep in the churchyard so we could get a feel of what it would be like to be homeless, but because of inclement weather, we moved our cardboard village into the church building and spent the night under a roof.

Saturday morning, we met for a Bible study given by Josh Sowards, also of Oklahoma City. Instead of our breakfast meal we fed on God’s Word, as Josh led us in a study about humility.

Then the PRODIGALS led the worship service. Pastor Roger Strickland from the Mount Sinai Baptist church, spoke on unity in the body of Christ, where we are all equals in God’s sight.

After the service, the PRODIGALS and their guests divided into three groups. One group took off toward Hawkins, one to Big Sandy and another to Gladewater. We had a scavenger hunt for items needed for charities in these towns.

We walked to Two Rivers grocery store, a two-mile hike, to spend 50 cents per person on the meal to break our fast the next morning. This taught us to appreciate the transportation we have as well as the abundance of food in this country.

We had $8 in all and spent $7.44 on four packages of hot dogs, one loaf of bread, two dozen eggs and one box of pancake mix.

During the weekend we played games that taught us about the needs of others in our country as well as Third World countries. We spent Saturday night in praise and worship to our Savior and then met around a bonfire. We had testimonies and confessions given by many. It was a time of sharing, caring and reaching out. Sunday morning, after giving thanks for the food, we broke our fast with the food we bought, prepared by John and Darlene Jones.

Josh Sowards then led the teens in a Bible study on "How to Keep the Fire Going." The PRODIGALS then conducted the worship service.

After church the PRODIGALS served beans and rice provided by the Benners to the congregation as a symbol of the type of meal people in Third World countries eat every day. We raised $931 for World Vision. Travis Slick.

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