Week #1

Jeff Riddle ~ June 8 - 14

Week 1 of 8 for the Summer Project is over.

The guys seem to have had a great time this past week serving at SOS.  Alvin, Jarquavious, and Michael all participated in camp under leadership of Patrick Alexander who was my youth pastor when I was in high school.  He still serves in the role as Youth Pastor of Buffalo Trail Baptist in Morristown, TN.

For a week, the guys got to be a part of the Buffalo Trail youth group.  I was around at different times throughout the week to witness and it was seamless.  They were laughing and buddied up with goofy, awkward high schoolers from East TN!  Patrick said that Mike was very open and vulnerable with the group and shared about his story and how he knows God is alive and has been active in his life.  Mike even went as far as mentioning his past dealings with drugs!  Sounded pretty incredible.

I sent a survey to Patrick and here is his summary from spending a week with them:

Alvin was a great worker. I thought he would be too scared to get on the roof but he was probably the hardest worker out of the boys. He has a quiet personality but he answered any question you asked him. He listened during devotions and enjoyed interactions with the other guys from the Buffalo Trail team. Jock worked at his own pace. He did participate well during the devotion time at lunch. The guys really enjoyed being around Colton, their team leader and Kyle, the construction manager. You could tell they need a male influence in their lives.

Keep praying for these guys that God would continue to soften their hearts to the gospel and that families and sponsors would respond!

In the middle (dark blue shirts) from left to right:  Alvin, Jarquavious, and Mike.