Warmer, Safer, Drier

The summer of 2015 could be one that changes your life. It could be a summer of spiritual transformation, of leadership growth, of hearing the call to join God’s mission. It could, that is, if you serve on the #armsummerstaff.

What makes me so sure?

Because the #armsummerstaff of 2014 experienced it themselves. Whether it was discipling middle and high school students, working with families on home repair projects, loving on kids at the day camp, or leading behind the scenes as the site leader, our staff experienced God’s presence working within, among, and all around them.

They were challenged, stretched, and put in situations where they had to rely on God’s faithful power and provision in new and deeper ways. They experienced authentic Christian community with one another and formed relationships of love and care across boundaries of race, class, and generation that imaged, if only faintly and temporarily, the kind of “beloved community” God envisions for us all. What’s more is that they were able to share this experience with groups of middle and high school students who came to serve throughout the summer. Through times of worship, Bible study, prayer, and discussion, our staff led these students closer to the heart of Christ and shared a vision for a lifestyle of service in and for God’s kingdom.

This is #armsummerstaff.

But don’t take my word for it! Click around below to see what some of our 2014 #armsummerstaff had to say…

This past summer helped me to realize that I have a huge passion for these kids and their education

I saw great things transforming in my life throughout the whole summer. I saw transformation in many of the kids at day camp and even in the staff… This was my first mission experience outside of my church mission work, and I can truly say I enjoyed every part.

God convinced me that if I want to be big in His kingdom I have to learn how to serve.

I guess this summer could be seen as a type of research, a re-searching of the soul and of my attitudes and outlook on life… the summer was a learning experience in letting go of control and allowing myself to be a member of a great community with the focus of serving in Christ.

God has shown me that I have a big heart for youth, which I did not realize before… Personally, this summer God has grown me in my plans for the future, in patience, and in self control. I know that I could have learned these three things in a different way, but I was happy to have learned them while working with Alabama Rural Ministry.

The world doesn’t seem the same anymore. The needs of others and the sufferings of the world all seem so much realer. God carried me through this summer and showed me that even on my worst of days, He could still use me and the staff to reach others and share His love and grace… The fight to end poverty in rural Alabama is a fight that is worth all the stress, sleepless nights, arguments, and tears that comes with working on Alabama Rural Ministry’s summer staff.

I would highly recommend working at ARM to anyone with a strong heart to serve. It is a challenging but rewarding experience that I personally saw change a lot of people, including myself. This ministry has blessed me in so many ways I know that God will continue to reveal to me how this Summer has helped me grow for years to come.

I am not the same after this past summer. For me, this has been an extremely challenging and eye-opening summer.

God tested my faith and transformed my faith into something indescribable. Constantly working for God and His glory through the day and night was a great feeling. Sometimes things didn’t work out the way we planned it, but God used it to create something better. God is super cool and was incredibly sweet to us the entire summer.

This has the potential to be one of the best summers of your life. You have a unique opportunity to be used by God in ways that go beyond what you can see at the time. You have a chance to shine his love on so, so many people. You will also be shown his glory through the youth, families, adults and kids that you get to meet and come to know. The harvest is bountiful, and the work is ultimately a joy to those who know and follow Christ.

Though I have worked all over the construction business my whole life, I truly learned how to apply that knowledge during my time in Livingston… Being a part of ARM was a privilege and truly a life changing experience for me. I learned a lot from not only the ARM staff but also the youth I worked with.

Have you applied yet? Find out all the details and download your application: #armsummerstaff. Contact Joe at (334) 501-4276 or joe@arm-al.org if you have any questions!