How my Acteens group has impact my community.

by Lydia Huggins

2012-2013 TN WMU State Acteens Panelist

Lydia on far left

Our Acteens group recently went to The River Ministry in Johnson City. This place ministers to women who are homeless and in dire situations. To help the women feel safe, they do not allow men. It was a great opportunity for our Acteens group to be able to minister to these women. The River provides them with basic needs such as washers and dryers, showers, classes that help them become independent, job referrals, and devotions. They give the women support with a Christ-like love and non-judgmental attitude. This gives the women a safe place to go and shows them the hope and love of God. We attended their daily devotion at 9:30 in the morning on Monday. After the Bible study, the women discussed prayer requests. The women asked for prayer for someone they knew, rather than for themselves. These women at The River have many needs, but they prayed for friends who have more needs. It humbled me because so often we pray for ourselves. We need to spend more time praying fervently for the people who need God. While at The River, we talked with the women and listened to them. We painted their nails to minister to them and show them that they are beautiful creations of God. As I visited with these women, I discovered that I can help needy people by praying for them and just listening to them. In Acteens, we have been studying about human exploitation in its many forms and how missionaries help people who have been exploited. Going to The River and ministering to the women was one way we could help the people in person.