I've always thought small wins are much better to celebrate than big ones. To me, it's hard to set a big goal and then just try to accomplish that goal head-on. Instead, I think it is easier to reach that big goal when you have smaller goals along the way from your starting point to your endpoint. You can slowly see your progress, which gives you confidence to reach the final product. From June 6th-12th, our youth group embodied small wins through all the work that we accomplished throughout the week.

Our group was small, but we sure were mighty with everything that we got done. The first day we worshipped with our hosting church, where we stayed, Faith Harbour UMC. In the morning, we worshipped on the boardwalk near the beach, which was a great way to start the day. Following the first service, we returned to the church for their traditional service, where our youth, without hesitation, helped serve communion to the church community. It was such a blessing to watch our youth help with one of the most holy aspects of worship, in connection with a fellow United Methodist congregation.
 
The next day we ventured out to Wilmington to help with an organization called First Fruits Ministries. This is a pantry for food and clothing for community members in need. Our team received our duties, quickly split up, and got to work. Two of our girls helped check in about 290 people who needed help. The rest of our team helped sort clothes that went out during the food pantry so people could grab clothing for themselves or their children. Once we finished, we met back at the church and wrote cards to all the ministries we were going to help that week, thanking them for allowing us to work with them and for their hospitality.

Day 3, we worked the first part of the day at Lighthouse Ministries, which is a church outside of Wilmington. One of the largest ministries this church has is a food pantry as well. Our job was to help organize food and clean up areas of the property so that it looked nice for visitors and church members in the future. I was so proud of our team, specifically on this job because it was a lot of work. We were outside in the heat shoveling, raking, and carrying heavy pieces of wood. But what did we do? We split the job into small wins. The youth, after accomplishing each small win, wanted to keep going, and we finished more than what the church had thought we could get done. In the second part of the day, we helped at a homeless shelter called Good Shepherd Centre. There we cleaned both the inside and outside of four of the vans that they use on a day-to-day basis. They were so impressed by the work that they mentioned us in their newsletter to the community.

On our last day, we helped again lead a midweek service with Faith Harbour. Our youth helped lead in readings and prayers throughout the service. Then that afternoon we went to Lauren's Hope. This is a pregnancy center helping expecting mothers with the various challenges that they may face. Like the following day, it was a big job, but our team created a plan. We split up, helping clean the warehouse and paint multiple doors around the center.

During our last group meeting, we discussed what the week meant to us. What I shared was that this week was a celebration. We celebrated small wins throughout the week and had a lot of work to show for it. Northbrook, you should be proud of your youth and adult volunteers for that week. God calls us to share God's love with our brothers and sisters in Christ. They did so by serving Communion, sorting clothes, shoveling, raking, moving trash, washing vans, sweeping, and painting doors. I'm excited to see what the future of Northbrook's youth ministry will look like, and how God will continue to look on the youth and adult volunteers.
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Peace and Grace,
Erich Wills
Minister of Youth & Missions