Why I Love Serving at SOS
Sarah Jernigan |
May 15, 2018
We asked Sarah, a Vineyard Cincinnati volunteer, about her experience with serving at the SOS Youth Conference.
If you're interested in serving at SOS, check out the serving roles here.
How did you start serving at SOS?
I started serving at SOS three years ago because, at the time, I was leading a middle school small group.
Leading up to the first time I served at SOS, I remember everyone was super enthusiastic about the conference.
I didn’t fully know what I was getting myself into but decided to request time off work and lead with my small group.
I had so much fun my first year that I went on to serve for the next two years with my group of ladies.
What do you enjoy most about serving at SOS?
Going out and serving the community all week, I’m not going to lie, it’s exhausting.
By Thursday or Friday, my group has always been drained, but somehow when we arrive on site and interact with the Cincinnatians we are serving, we have a boost of energy.
Sometimes our days would start off by saying, “Lord, please give us energy for today,” and He would.
I think observing the immense amount of gratitude poured on us from the people we served, enabled us to continue throughout the day.
Then, after a long day and dinner break, our bodies were able to sit and relax while our minds were engaged with the words from the speakers each night.
The talks always refreshed me for the next day and made me eager for another day of serving.
How has serving as SOS changed your life?
Personally, it provides a week where I don’t focus on anything else besides serving God and growing closer to Him.
In our busy lives, I think sometimes we forget about the power of serving others for God’s glory and SOS has always been a week for me to take a break from my normal routine and serve the people of Cincinnati.
Secondly, it is a week to guide students and have a front-row seat to witness their grace, humility, servant’s heart, and generosity towards others. Every year, I am blown away by their energy and enthusiasm to serve others.
Furthermore, the evening sessions provide a chance for students and leaders to worship God, hear His Word, and have meaningful conversations with their small groups.
Those late-night evening talks, even after an exhausting and emotional day, bring small groups closer and are incubators for many meaningful and raw conversations about faith.
I was there to lead my girls, but in the process, every year I grew so much as a follower of Christ.
Has there been a relationship that’s been really meaningful?
Being able to serve and worship as a small group for a week was really impactful. Typically, we only have an hour every Sunday with our small groups, which never seems like enough time.
Spending a week with them though, gave the Holy Spirit numerous occasions to test our group’s patience, endurance, and faith.
Going through SOS with my small group each year was so special because it would create a stronger bond among us and open up our group as a place for honest dialogue.
However, you don’t need previous relationships with your SOS students to have significant conversations.
I know of many other leaders who met their students the week of SOS and have maintained meaningful relationships with their students.
SOS is a time for leaders to personally be impacted by God’s work, but also to guide students and be awestruck by their zeal to serve God.
2018 SOS Youth Conference: June 11-15
If you're interested in serving at SOS, there are a variety of roles to choose from.
Whether you're ready to serve for a couple hours or all week, we have a spot for you! Check out our serving roles here.