Introducing the 2012 Mercy Street Summer Interns

Left to right: Antonio Carey, Laura Alcantar,
Quincy Giddings, Marquez  Carey, Raymond Williams, Jacquella White,
Oscar Gonzales, Archesia Thomas, Tamara Williams, Christine Moton

We couldn't be more thrilled about the emerging young leaders the Lord has led us to invest heavily in this summer at Mercy Street! The students will be poured into through daily devotions, classroom time with renown speakers, mentoring relationships with staff members, and meals shared in the homes of believers in West Dallas. The interns will also be investing in the lives of younger kids as they plan and run Super Thursdays for elementary kids from 12-2 each week throughout the summer. Stay tuned for exciting updates about this gifted group of interns! 

Applications are officially up on our website for our summer internship program! We will be accepting 8-10 high school students, along with 4-6 college/seminary students, to come serve with us at Mercy Street for 10 weeks this summer. It will be an intense discipleship program coupled with an educational experience on how to do urban ministry.

You will not want to miss this exciting opportunity, so check out our website and turn in your applications ASAP!

Spring Break Road Trip

Back row: Adrienne, Kaylene, Tamara,
Demarcus, Julie, Raymond, Jerry, Temirea
Front row: Charis, Talia, Nessia

We were given the opportunity to take 5 student leaders on a spring break road trip to Montgomery, Alabama, where Common Ground Ministries graciously offered to host us. So Julie and Jerry, along with Jerry's wife and three precious little girls, packed into a 15 passenger van and drove 13 hours straight to Montgomery, where a week of service, Bible study, and good conversation over long meals ensued.

Our students were superstars throughout the entire trip: they sought out opportunities to pour into the children in Common Ground's after school program, they had joyful spirits when they cleaned and painted, and they remained grateful even when us leaders served them the same leftovers for two or three meals in a row! It's becoming evident that we've got some godly leaders emerging from within the community here in West Dallas.

We also got the opportunity to visit several of the Civil Rights Museums during our time in Montgomery, including the Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks Museums. Our kids were struck by the impact of these leaders at such a young age (King was only 26!). It was a blessing to unpack all the complex emotions that resulted from this, as we spent at least an hour around the table talking after each meal.  Our kids were profoundly inspired by the opportunities available to them now -- opportunities that were bought at a high price by those who have gone before them.

As we returned to West Dallas and processed the trip with one another, the students continually mentioned the fact that the people of Montgomery took it upon themselves to transform their neighborhood. They decided as a community that they didn't want the crack-heads and prostitutes running through their streets, and the crime rates are rapidly decreasing as a result. Our kids returned feeling empowered to BE the change they wish to see here in West Dallas, which is a testament to the Spirit working deep within these young leaders' hearts!

Bringing the Word

In case you haven't heard: Jerry Wagner is preaching the GOSPEL every Tuesday night to our high school students at Mercy Street. Jerry completed his M.A. at Dallas Theological Seminary in May, and joined our staff as the Boys' High School Mentor Coordinator in August. If you happened to stumble into Mercy Street on a given Tuesday night, you would see Hebrew phrases scribbled on the whiteboard; hear Jerry preaching the the Word of God, unapologetically;  and you would see 40-50 pairs of eyes locked in as the students digested the words of life communicated so passionately. It's a beautiful sight to take in.

I used to assume most high school students weren't mature enough to crave dense sermons about the cost of following Jesus, but I've been proven wrong. Our students are ready to learn the meat and potatoes of our faith; they're asking the hard questions and hungry for substantial answers.

If you're an adult who's interested in checking us out, feel free to join us any Tuesday evening at 6:30. We might ask you to grab a spoon and help us dish up some food, but you're sure to be blessed in the process. We would also love for you to bring students along with you so they might begin to feast on the words of life shared week in and week out.

Mercy Street was bumping with energy this past Saturday as parents and mentors came together for a morning of fellowship. They played games together, received specific training, and enjoyed good conversation as they shared a meal with one another. The theme of the day was "It Takes A Village," and each person spent time considering the vital role they play in raising the children of our village here in West Dallas. It was a beautiful morning at Mercy Street.

One service we offered this Saturday that hasn't been available during most of our events was English to Spanish translation. This made it possible for a number of parents to participate who haven't previously been given the opportunity. The coolest part about it was that our Student Leaders were the translators! They wore headsets with microphones and spread themselves out so that each talk would be translated for all to hear. It was a joy to sit back and watch our students play such a vital role in the ministry taking place that morning.

Our Student Leaders are always eager for opportunities to serve. If you have any specific needs where you could utilize some volunteers, let us know and we'll be there with smiles. They run after service opportunities like most kids run to Six Flags, and you will be blessing them by giving them the chance to bless you!

It Takes a Village

Take a minute to reflect on some of the moments or experiences that influenced you the most growing up. I frequently do that when I'm running or on a road trip, and I'm always struck by two things: 1.) how much I have to be grateful for, and 2.) how many different people have invested in my life. No one person could have shared all the wisdom I needed to eventually mature into a (relatively) responsible adult. I needed my parents, teachers, coaches, writers, speakers, friends, counselors, and a number of other sources of wisdom in my life. Even still, I was a slow learner who chose to make a teacher out of mistakes, rather than listening to the role models who had a vested interest in my well-being.

The point is that it takes a crowd of people sharing the same message to our kids in order to ensure the message goes through loud and clear. Our prayer at Mercy Street is that mentors and parents will work closely together to have a positive impact on our students. If parents and mentors are on the same page, emphasizing the same message, with the same heart, then our students are more prone to allow the wisdom to seep into their souls.

On January 14, from 9am-12, we will have a joint event at Mercy Street to bring parents and mentors together: it will be our first mentor training coupled with our parent appreciation luncheon. Our hope is that mentors will attend the entire event with their student's parent(s), for a time of learning, relationship building, and honoring our parents. We believe this is essential in truly making an impact on our students and we look forward to seeing all of you there. Lunch will be provided so come hungry, and come ready to learn from one another as you begin nurturing your friendships with others who think the world of your student!

Where the Gospel Meets Real Life

We've been so impressed with the maturity we're seeing in a number of our high school students over the past year! It's crazy to watch some of these kids who have been a part of Mercy Street since they were in the 4th grade, growing into adults who are making responsible choices that will effect their entire lives.

For instance, one of our precious students just received her driver's license the day before her 18th birthday. She is the first person in her entire family to take on the responsibility of getting her license. She took the bus to Desoto for her driver's ed course for several months, begged people to evaluate her progress on a regular basis, went through the long and arduous process of working with the DPS for several weeks, and finally passed her driving test this past week. She cried as she left the DPS because she was so proud of herself for taking the difficult steps in order to become a responsible adult!

It was such a blessing to watch her mentor leading her through the process, just like so many other mentors are walking their students through the steps of applying for colleges or going into the military. They are beautiful images of the holistic ministry we're seeking to do here in West Dallas. It's extremely valuable to teach our kids the Word and to encourage them to follow Jesus first and foremost. But we're also hoping to walk alongside them in all the practical ways that will help our kids flourish into responsible adults. The Gospel of Jesus encompasses the spiritual and the physical, and we seek to embody the way of Christ in both realms as well.