One of the things we love about our students is their willingness to learn and serve, not only during the academic school year, but even throughout the summer break as well. You rarely get a boring answer when asking them how they spent their summer, which is why we did just that. While it is common for our students to travel abroad, even those who remain in Nashville stay active during the summer serving the local community through various programs that happen on G.O.D.’s campus.

Students Living A Mission (SLAM) is a program that happens throughout the summer where churches from across the region come together to partake in Bible studies, worship, and community service. Some of the Institute students give their time to help facilitate the various activities that take place like service projects, break out groups, worship sessions and more.

Another program which takes place during the summer on the G.O.D. campus is WorkWell. WorkWell provides opportunities for local youth to gain job training and experience to help them learn what it takes to succeed in the workplace. 

Here are some of what the Institutes students had to say about their summer experiences…

Sarah Giguere
“While many of my friends were serving Jesus abroad in Africa, I got the opportunity to serve local youth here in Nashville. I participated in workwell, which served over 50 youth ages 14-15 with their first job experience. I was able to mentor them through soft and hard skills in the workplace, and help them learn how to facilitate a kids’ camp. I also was able to serve through ministry weeks called SLAM week, helping kids’ connect with one another through their love for Jesus. It was a very powerful summer, where God did a lot in me and through me.” 

Lily McDaniel

“I think my summer could best be summarized under the theme of “Truth-telling”. This summer I participated with two programs: WorkWell and SLAM (Students Living A Mission). Within these programs the age range of those I was serving were 14-17 years old. The theme of truth-telling sticks out to me because of the conversations I had with people throughout the summer. 

In WorkWell, I had a conversation with an employee where I told him I thought he had a gift in telling the truth with kindness to his coworkers. He was surprised by my comment and later said that no one had ever told him that. During SLAM, I had conversations with youth about the kind of honesty they want to bring into their friendships. The kind of honesty that would be the fruit of them enacting God’s Word, specifically as they were learning about John 15. 

I’m thankful I could spend my summer having these kinds of conversations with the teens I was serving. It shows the kind of depth people are searching for, it shows youth that there’s an opportunity for them to break out of what they know. They know that the truth can be delivered harshly, they know it tells them what they are doing wrong, and they know they should practice it. But youth don’t often believe the life truth telling brings, they don’t often know how to tell the truth in love, and they don’t often get a chance to practice it in different venues (like work). This summer I was encouraged by the youth I worked with, because I saw them put to practice something in a new way. They were awesome and I had an awesome summer with them.” 

Alison Jobe

“This summer, I got the opportunity to supervise a group of high school students who intern as a media team for the nonprofit through the WorkWell program. They did everything from photography and videography to blog writing and even comic creation for our weekly newsletter. I was so blessed by my time working with these amazing highschoolers, and it felt like a really special opportunity to combine the skills I have been developing within both nonprofit multimedia and education. Getting to pass on some of my knowledge to such teachable employees was incredibly special— not only were they learning the hands-on skills of camera work and project management, they also got to discuss how we should go about to telling stories and taking pictures in a way that is ethical, dignifying, and in line with our values as a nonprofit.” 

Lauren Garrison

“I’ve had a heart for both agriculture and women’s empowerment since I was young, and this summer I had the opportunity to work with 4 teenage girls and teach them how to have a job with G.O.D’s Workwell program. We were working specifically in the context of agriculture, and I sincerely woke up every morning grateful for the experience. For the past few years I’ve been learning from God’s Word what a gift work is and how it can be a valuable experience that is meaningful and has purpose. I felt really privileged to get to share those lessons with the young women I was working with, along with teaching them how to appreciate the special opportunity we had to work outside and get our hands dirty. God has blessed me so much!”

If you happen to see an Institute student, don’t be afraid to ask them how they spent their summer. A summer spent serving others is a summer well spent.