Operation WalMart

Last Thursday CSM (Cornerstone Student Ministry) high school students teamed up with students from Lakeview Church, Elim Tabernacle, and Corner to launch a full assault on the Stonebridge Wal-Mart and Dollarama.  Over 100 students showed up with cash in hand to partner up in groups in order to build shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Acting as a jump off point from the Hope Lives series that we’ve been working through, the night provided students with an immediate and tangible way to impact the lives of others, offering hope to those in need.

After cramming into vehicles and driving across town, CSM split up into teams and cruised through the aisles.  It’s alway fun to see the confused looks on the faces of store employees when an army of 16year old walk in and start filling shopping carts (especially when it’s 16 year old boys buying supplies for a 3 year old girl).

Once the shopping was done, students met up with Lakeview and Elim at Lakeview to put boxes together, and then spend some time breaking into groups–2 students from each church–to spend time praying over the boxes, and for the young kids who would be pening them up in the next few months.

One of the great gifts of student ministry is watching students live beyond themselves, and be led by the Holy Spirit in what they do.  The excitement, energy, and joy that explodes out of young adults when they buy in to doing something for others is a contagious reminder that we too should have the same joy of heart when we have opportunity to reach beyond our day to day grind.

At the end of the night, 66 shoeboxes we’re shipped off with love and care, from students who are actively working out what it means to Love God, Love People, and Change the World.