YEP Serves and Spreads Christ’s Love

Members of the Youth Evangelism Project (YEP) spent earlier last week serving the community while spreading the gospel. There were more than 80 youth who participated in the annual community service project across the county. Volunteers included pre-teens and teens from Dixie Hills Baptist Church, Hornsby Baptist Church, and Parrans Chapel Baptist Church. The mission of YEP is clear and simple, to serve the community and spread Christ’s love.

“Youth come together to show a servant’s heart and to serve their community at no cost,” said Nick Jackson who is a youth leader and band vocalist at Dixie Hills. “We only ask that people listen as we share the love of Jesus Christ through witnessing while we serve them.”

This is Jackson’s second year serving with YEP and the tenth year the project has been active in Hardeman County. Student volunteers ranged from 10 years old to 18 years old. Each year, there are new student volunteers, but most of the volunteers who serve are repeat participants. Many adults like Jackson also participate each year as leaders for the various service activities that are completed during the project period.

“Some of the activities we completed were landscaping (ex: yard cutting and mulching flower beds), house cleaning for the elderly and disabled, and construction of wheelchair ramps, steps, and porches,” said Jackson. “We also pressure washed homes, painted houses, washed cars, and gave out free food,”

Jackson oversaw the trash pick-up teams. Litter continues to be an ongoing problem on the roads throughout Hardeman County.

“The trash has always been a major issue on the roadways for a majority of the community,” said Jackson who is committed to continuing the litter removal effort. “I decided to purchase vests, trash bags, and grabbers to continue the trash pick-up around the county and try to put a dent in this issue.”

Jackson hopes to continue the momentum started with YEP of keeping the roadways clean with the help of youth and adult volunteers from around the community. He noted the encouragement the youth felt from the constant horn blowing and waving of people driving by as his teams walked the roads picking up trash. Several of those people took the time to get out of their cars and thank the youth face-to-face.

“I can think of no better way to try and get a handle on this trash issue than to get our youth involved and other volunteers once a month or more frequently to clean up a few roads,” said Jackson. “It would be good to get our youth involved to instill that deep sense of pride and community and love for one another.”