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Have Spring projects? Local teens ready to help

By
Lori Sorenson

Local teens with Rock the Edge Youth are seeking projects for their 2021 Service Over Self mission week June 21-25.
Rock the Edge is a group of youth leaders and teens from Rock County in Minnesota that gather for service and fellowship. The summer work for residents and organizations in Rock County is their primary shared mission.
Projects in the past have included painting, repairing, gardening, landscaping, cleaning, organizing and more.
The first mission summer was in 2018 when 54 teens and 24 adults volunteered with 47 local projects. In 2019 there were 90 youth and 50 adults who worked on more than 70 projects.
Last summer, despite pandemic restrictions, Service Over Self week brought together 75 youth and 35 adults for more than 50 local service projects, all of them outdoors for safe social distancing.
“Service Over Self touches many lives,” said Wanda Jarchow, a member of the planning team, at the close of the 2019 mission week.
“Mark 10:45 says, ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.’ And that is our mission – to serve others.”
The teens learn the value of volunteering while learning new skills, and project recipients experience Christian generosity and grace.
One team of workers helped a Luverne resident clean a backyard in pouring rain, and that person later described being overwhelmed and grateful.
“They wiped out in a single night something that would have taken me two years to do on my own — and they did it under monsoon rains.”
Volunteers painted the house later in the week, and the resident described the work as a “fresh start” toward helping maintain the property.
“I prayed a lot about this — about how I could do it,” the resident said. “I don’t have the words to describe what this means to me.”
 
Background
Jarchow said area churches came together in 2015 to form the Rock the Edge youth group “to bring area youth leaders and students together in Christian unity to organize community-wide events for area youth groups to attend.”
Youth leaders and students from area churches meet monthly to plan events, such as “See You at the Pole,” prayer day at schools, Christian films at the Palace Theatre, youth rallies, Christian music concerts and more.
In 2018, Service Over Self was added as a group activity after a local business owner suggested the idea of the stay-at-home mission trip.
“We have lots of local people that need help,” Jarchow said. “Why go to other places?”
 
Here’s how to help
Jarchow, 507-227-1978, and fellow organizer Becky Ossefoort, 605-26-4000, are accepting project requests for the 2021 Service Over Self Week. Inquiries and signups are also accepted at rocktheedgemn@gmail.com.
Adults interested in volunteering can call Nicole Henrichs at 401-500-3427.
Monetary donations to help pay for supplies can be sent to: UMC Compassion Fund, 109 N. Freeman, Luverne, MN 56156.
The Rock the Edge Facebook page provides timely updates about Service Over Self and other projects.

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