MBU News

Urban Up!

October 25, 2007

By Karen Kratzer

“I think the Lord is kicking me out of my comfort zone and showing me that there is more to ministry than music,” said freshman Mandi Lee, who went on the most recent excursions with MBU’s Urban Up. “He's working on me so much. I was called to Urban Up and so far it's been nothing short of an amazing experience.”

Urban Up is a new group that Campus Ministries is starting here on campus. It is an effort to reach out to those in the inner city and create relationships while spreading the word of Jesus Christ.

After chapel on Oct. 11, a group of seven students and Pastor Jonathan White went to Metro North Ministries (MNM). The leaders of MNM, Theresa and Curtis, took them around the property and told them about MNM and its history. Once they had finished their tour, they began their tasks for the day. The women organized the clothes so that they would be more accessible to give out, and the men assembled shelves and toys such as bikes.

What satisfaction can this bring to someone?

“Just knowing what I was doing was going to change someone’s life. That ministry is so powerful, and they really speak to and aid the needs of the St. Louis people. Also, I learned how to size men's pants.... that was an adventure,” Lee said.

The following Saturday, she went again with eight other students and Jonathan White to New Haven of Grace. New Haven of Grace is a single mother’s home that offers aid to single mothers and their families. These students went there to give the moms a day off and watch their kids as they went out and treated themselves to whatever they felt like. It turns out that there were eight students to watch two kids. “We watched Prince of Egypt and played with the two children as much as possible,” said Lee.

Lee summed up her experience like this: “Other than the ministry part of Urban Up, which is great and the main focus, it is also a great time to fellowship with the other Christians on campus who have a heart for people. Some of the people I have served with this week have blown my mind. We have some mission-based people who want to do the Lord's work, and it is so encouraging. I love getting to know these people!”

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