Volunteers
Students spend spring break serving at the Mission
Many college students spend spring break at home with family or taking a vacation with friends. Students from Trinity Bible College, however, spent their spring break at the Mission, offering help wherever it was needed. The college recently added a ministry component to the required freshman curriculum. Students chose from four available trips, including the one that brought them to the Mission’s doorstep.
Led by advisor John Fransisco, the students came from North Dakota to Nebraska to spend a week volunteering their time. They even slept in the shelter and ate in the cafeteria, to get the full experience of being at the Mission. All of these students are studying different things and planning different future careers, but they all came to work together and serve.
So why ask students to travel and spend spring break helping out at a homeless shelter?
“We’re in an isolated, rural area, and there are few experiences like this close to us,” said Fransisco. “We want out students to also experience some of the problems and be a part of ministry in the city.”
Getting in at the ground level and gaining hands-on experience gives students a deeper understanding of service and compassion. “We are hoping that they will see this as part of the church’s responsibility,” said Fransisco. “We are hoping that some may be called to this type of ministry in the future.”
All of us at the Mission would like to extend a big thank you to the staff and students from Trinity Bible College—your help this week was greatly appreciated!
- Category: Volunteers
Free Clinic is looking for volunteers
People's City Mission's Free Clinic is in need of 10-15 volunteer pharmacists who could come in for a couple of hours every few weeks to fill prescriptions (approx 35).
The Clinic is also looking for a diabetic educator and dietician that could volunteer for one afternoon a month.
If you are interested in either opportunities, please call Steve at 402.890.3905 or email
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- Category: Volunteers , Health Care
Couple creates their own ministry opportunity at the Mission
Two years ago, Josh Sand and his wife, Andi, almost packed their bags and moved oversees to do mission work with their friends Chris and Jana Darst. But having young children meant the move wasn’t going to be easy, so both couples considered other options. That’s when they reached out to the Mission and asked about needs they could fill. Now, they work together and run a successful kid’s group at the Mission every Thursday night.
“The first night only one person came,” said Josh. “Now we have as many kids as we can handle.”
The friends dubbed their group “Adventure Seekers,” and they provide the children at the Mission with a safe place to go on Thursdays. The evening includes a bible lesson, games, and even crafts. Dozens of kids ranging in age from 4 to 12 come to play and learn, and anywhere from 8 to 16 volunteers join the Sands and the Darsts to run the night’s activities.
“Our main goal is to provide a fun environment where the kids can hear about the love of Jesus and begin to understand how much He loves each of them,” said Josh. And Josh is confident that the group is making an impact, even when it’s not immediately apparent. He tells a story of a man who attended a bible study as a homeless youth. When he got older and ran into hard times, he remembered the bible study and decided to try reaching out to God for help. The man told Josh, “If you ever think that you’re not getting anywhere with these kids, remember this story. I am living proof that God is working in a place like this.”
The Sands and the Darsts also bring their own children to Adventure Seekers. It’s important to the couples that their kids learn the value of serving others and see that all people, regardless of their situation, need Jesus. It’s been a great learning experience for both young families.
So do Josh and Andi ever regret not taking their ministry oversees?
“When we leave the Mission after Adventure Seekers each Thursday night, we are exhausted,” said Josh. “But we know we are exactly where God wants us to be… We have learned the needs of the people right here in Lincoln. We don’t have to go oversees to have an impact for Jesus—we can do it right here in this city.”
- Category: Volunteers
