Servant Groups Make Connections

Bishop Stephen Bouman with the MNYS/AOK Servant Exchange participants

When high school junior Lizzie Guarino, of Cross of Christ in Babylon, heard about the Synod-to-Synod Servant exchange program, her mom encouraged her to participate.  She’d already done mission trips for three summers, along with some programs through the Episcopal church. Lizzie had helped organize vacation Bible schools, and through the church had served at homes for the elderly. 

LDRNY partner Koinonia NYC has arranged almost 20 Servant Events in the past 18 months.  But this year, with the partnership of the MNYS Children, Youth, and Family Committee, a special exchange program placed 14 Metro NY Synod and 10 Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod youth in each other’s hometowns.  Most of the participants are in high school.

“The idea for the exchange grew out of the support the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod (AOKS) provided post-September 11th.  Last year Bishop Bouman was the representative at the AOKS synod assembly and the AOKS Bishop was the representative at the MNYS assembly.   And so the Bishops and other synod members began planning,” said Pastor Ann Tiemeyer of Koinonia NYC.  “Then we in MNYS in partnership with Koinonia NYC sought and received a Youth Leadership Grant to fund the New York portion of the program.  This funding made it a reality. “

While in New York last month, the AOK delegation served at food pantries.  One was traditional, where they bagged parcels of food for those who relied on the church for meals.  Another was set up like a supermarket.  Lizzie commented, “It was like a supermarket, not like a soup kitchen.  The clients were given points based on their needs, and then they used the points to shop like anyone else would.”  Lizzie’s group stocked shelves there. Charlie Germain, a deacon at Trinity Brewster and one of the adult chaperones, said.  “It was great to be a part of the food ministries that feed the hungry in New York City.  A lot of people don’t even know that these food ministries exist, or that there are so many people in NYC who depend on them.”  After their hard work, the participants went to Coney Island, the Empire State Building and Chinatown, and took a Faithwalk. 

Dinner in Chinatown

Faithwalks are an integral part of Koinonia’s ministry in Lower Manhattan.  Groups from all over the country have witnessed Ground Zero and St. Paul’s Chapel, hearing first-hand accounts of September 11th and sharing their own perspectives and memories from a faith-based point of view.  The AOK and Metro synods came together at St. Paul’s Chapel.  “There was a banner there from Oklahoma City,” Lizzie recalled.  “You could really feel God’s presence in that place.”

“It is great that this year was the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma bombing, because it put it back in the news.  Some of the high school participants from MNYS didn't know much about the bombing, so this is an educational experience for them,” said Tiemeyer.  As the MNYS delegates head to Oklahoma this week, they’re sure to learn even more.  Among the activities planned for them is a trip to the Memorial, on the site of what was the Alfred Murrah building.  They will also work with a Native American children’s mission and see a Passion play.

“I’m really excited to reconnect with the friends I made,” said Lizzie.  “Sometimes you just lose touch after an event, but I feel like we really made a connection.”   We look forward to hearing about their trip to AOKS on September 17th, when the MNYS youth will make a special presentation at the Wartburg in Mt. Vernon.