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Religion
Church's youth travel for mission work By Janet Conner-Knox | Daily Times Staff Writer Getting teens to work for others without getting paid may seem difficult to do. But each year Rev. Annie Plotts, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, gets teens to do just that during their spring breaks and summer vacations. "Working for others is an important thing for each and every Christian. I am the youth minister at my church, I want to make sure that the young people understand that as Christians we are in the place of Christ. We are his hands and feet," she said. So, as a result, Plotts takes high schoolers to other states to have them work with people who are less fortunate than they are. "Mission work is not just for adults. Teens learn a great deal when they go out to help others, and in the process we help ourselves," she said. Plotts said that when she and her teens go out to do mission work they are not saving the day. She said they get to show God's love and the people they work with also show them God's love in return. "We don't have to save the world. Jesus already did that. But the teens get to see another culture and to look at things from another angle," said Plotts. Wilson Kennedy, 17, said that he was shocked when he went to New York to do mission work and experienced hunger firsthand. The teen said serving the food made him want to continue to serve others. Plotts said that many teens are not acquainted with the hurting world. Mission work opens their eyes, she added. Seventeen-year-old Caroline Dolman said she heard from her friends at church that mission work was sobering and rewarding. "But I have to admit that I went into missions work with some prejudges. I used to think that people were homeless because they lacked motivation, until I saw kids my age that were homeless. It's hard to admit, but I was wrong, and I had to change the way I was thinking. It is life changing to see someone your own age without a place to live," said Dolman. Plotts said that not only do the teens come away with a better understanding about the world they share with others, they come back bonded with each other with closer friendships and more respect for others. "We are all in the image of God -- rich, poor, all races and creeds," she said. In order to raise money to be able to afford their mission trips, the teens have fund-raisers during the year. "We sell chicken plates and sell Moravian cakes and cookies and even get donations to help us have the money we need to go away," said Plotts. This summer the teens will be traveling to San Antonio, Texas. janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847
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