The Hartford Project

The Hartford Project is an outreach ministry where area youth spend a week in our city worshiping, praying, growing, and serving our community together. Both South Church youth and adults have participated as students and staff for many years now. THP’s goals are:

 1)         To see the body of Christ in and around the city being built up and serving in Hartford.

2)        To promote unity in the body of Christ.

3)        To pray for the work of God in Hartford.

For several summers now, South Church has been the primary host site for THP, and we are once again in 2022. The first week began on Sunday and ends tomorrow. The second is July 17-21.

It is not easy to be a teenager. I remember. Do you? You are half-child / half-adult. Sometimes you feel like a kid. Other times you know you’re supposed to make adult mature decisions. Hormones are raging. Hair is growing in places it never had before. I feel today’s teens have it even harder. I did not have to deal with the internet. Social media can be so destructive to self-esteem, confidence, and self-image. In my day, bullies had to harass you right to your face. Fewer people were willing to do that. Today, bullying is so much easier because bullies can hide behind the anonymity of a computer or smartphone.

When a teen reveals they are a believer, it is not always met with celebration. Jesus warned us, “…everyone will hate you because you are my followers” (Luke 21:17). So, when I meet these THP teens I am encouraged. They love Jesus and are passionate about serving God in this city.

Young people can be powerfully effective messengers of the gospel because often they have not yet become cynical about the world. Adults can have a tendency to quickly jump to conclusions about people. Why are they addicted? Why can’t they provide for their family? Why don’t they just get a job? Whereas, often, a teen just sees someone who is struggling as someone who is struggling. The reasons why don’t really matter to them. They simply want to help. Is it naïve? Perhaps a little, but we certainly don’t want to discourage them. As Paul said to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). If you know a teenager, encourage them. Let them know how much you appreciate them.

A heart for Jesus is a powerful thing. Whether that heart is fifteen or fifty matters not. I am so happy to see THP again this year. They are examples of faith in action and I know God is going to use them to do incredible things in this city.

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Remember you can email praises and petitions to southchurchprayer@gmail.com. We lift them up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 4:00 pm on Facebook Live.