CORE Youth Ministry Celebrates a Year of Community Service

Students from Maplewood Baptist Church’s (MBC) CORE youth ministry program gathered to celebrate a year of community service on December 28th. Students were presented an award honoring their hard work through 2016. CORE Youth ministry is for students in grade 6-12 and is led by Matt and Amanda Houk and their theme for the year was Loving God, Loving Others. From January 2016- December 2016 students practice their mission by participating in service projects, focused on a variety of community needs.

Early in the year MBC’s student raised funds for a local second grade classroom to receive new school supplies. Students shopped for items and surprised a teacher at a local school with several bins full of new school supplies including pencils, paper, craft supplies, notebooks, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. Through out the year students from MBC and our partnering youth group from Lynn, Austin Square Baptist Church’s (ASBC) youth ministry program SWAG which is led by Caleb and Cassandra Wilfert. The two youth programs spent time at the 630 Salem Street building bringing treats, small Christmas gifts, hosting a bingo Valentine's party and singing for the residents (pictured above). During the spring, MBC’s student participated in an outreach program called “Loads of Love.” As a group, we visited a local laundry mat on two occasions with our friends from ASBC. Students assisted members of the community with the funds to wash and dry laundry, passed out bottled waters and ice pops to children waiting with their parents.

For Easter, CORE Youth students decided they wanted to honor our local heroes, by bringing 25 Easter baskets and breakfast to our local fire station. MBC’s students were treated with a tour of the fire station and learned about the history of the Malden Fire Department. In October, MBC’s students walked 3.1 miles for the Walk for Bread, raising funds for Malden’s own Bread of Life. Throughout the course of the year MBC’s students learn about the needs of children around the world and how Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, provides Christmas gifts in Jesus’ name to children (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/). This year, CORE Youth and SWAG Youth ministries exceeded their goal of 200 shoebox gifts and packed 218 boxes loaded with toys, school supplies, hygiene products, treats and more for children. The 218 shoebox gifts were sent to children living in Burundi. As a new year has begun, MBC’s students have committed to continuing community service in Malden for 2017. For more information about Maplewood Baptist Church or CORE Youth ministry visit mbcmalden.net or find us on Facebook. Maplewood Baptist meets at 729 Salem Street, Malden Ma. Sunday morning classes for all ages begin at 9:15am and services begin at 10:30am. CORE Youth meets Sunday evenings from 5-7pm.