MFUGE: Mission First is helping, working and impacting

Jacob Tatum

New Life Baptist church

Atlanta, GA

Age:16

Helping, working, impacting - three words that can be used to describe what goes on at Mission First. The staff here are dedicated to showing Godly love to whoever may need it, regardless of background. The lives blessed and touched by Mission First are apparent and can be seen even by those who are here for just a couple hours a day.

During my time at MFUGE this week, I decided to do step out and do something different, just for the fun, to see what amazing things God would show me through my time here. Paint, construction and yard work (PCY) was not my strongest area of ministry. After all, I'm not the strongest or most hardworking individual. However, I knew God was going to bless me somehow. Sure enough, the first day on site was amazing, and God's presence was apparent. Children and youth are loved and nurtured in a way that will raise them to be the next generation of Christ-followers. This showed me Mission First is a place where I wanted to help in any shape, form or fashion.

God has blessed me through this work. It was amazing just to see children and youth light up when we stepped on campus, even if we weren't serving directly with them. Even through mowing the grass and working, they were happy to see us. The need is great. There is no question. But, by serving with Mission First - even when it is tough, strenuous and tiring work - I was blessed by God. There is a much bigger picture than what I ever thought about. What Mission First is doing is what's most important.

As followers of Christ, we are called to help others. God has given me this opportunity and opened my eyes to notice, "Hey, I'm being selfish and need to help others and not how can I help myself. I'm blessed to be here and it has changed my life. I hope that the work done here will impact some person who is in need, and they will get to know God just from a couple hours of work." Working in hot weather is a small price for me to pay to receive a larger blessing of showing people the love of Christ. It is my prayer that they will receive salvation through it. It makes me smile to think about that and the impact Mission First makes on this community.