Jim Ingersoll
Retired Seventh-day Adventist Educator
2Serve Program Director
Debbie Baker
President - Heritage Academy
2Serve Logistics Director
Josh Haley
Boys Dean - Heritage Academy
2Serve Training Director
Becky Ingersoll
Retired Nurse and Seventh-day Adventist Educator
2Serve Trainer and Food Service Director
Use young people in disaster response and training to do the most good for the most people as the hands and feet of Jesus
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
2Serve provides life changing experiences for all ages particularly academy and college age young people by involving them in the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through FEMA CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training and opportunities to safely and effectively aid survivors of a disaster.
In Matthew 24:14 (NIV) Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Since Jesus has not returned there is still work to be done in spreading the gospel to the whole world. Ellen Whites tells us in the 5th Volume of the Testimonies “The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity, she will have to do in a terrible crisis, under most discouraging, forbidding, circumstances.” 5T p. 463
A dramatic increase in crises around the world create tremendous challenges and also opportunities for the spreading of the gospel. While circumstances may be discouraging to many and yes even forbidding, when seeing these things happen, it is a time when people are looking for something better than this world can offer as they may have lost their homes, jobs, vehicles and even family members to a disaster of some sort. For survivors to see Jesus in people who are willing to come help them without requirement other than that they need help is beyond the understanding of most.
Over the past 15 years it has been our privilege to witness the youth of Southern Union schools and supporting adults act as the hands and feet of Jesus in aiding thousands of survivors from many disasters. We are convinced more than ever that our youth, along with supporting adults, are the key to preaching the gospel to the whole world through word but even more through action. The saying “Us’m or Lose’m” is a significant reason for many youth exiting the Church. If in fact the Seventh-day Adventist Church is wanting Jesus to return soon our youth must play an intricate role in the mission and management of the the church. This will require a radical a change in thinking for many.
For a change of this magnitude an outpouring of the Holy Spirit is required in the lives of all, old and young. “A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death.” Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend. Review and Herald, February 25, 1902. God is clear in Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) ...: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
We believe fully in the following statement from the book Education p. 271 “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon coming Savior might be carried to the WHOLE WORLD. How soon might the end come—the end of suffering and sorrow and sin!” To that end we exist!
August, 2005 Hurricane Katrina was a defining time in how to effectively utilize academy and college age students to effect incredible change for good in the outcome of survivors lives from that horrific disaster. Adventist young people were being used to make significant daily improvements in the lives of those impacted by the storm.
Over a five week span more than 1,200 students and adults from Southern Union academies and universities along with church youth groups and academies from around the United States had life changing experiences helping Hurricane Katrina survivors. An average of 152 students and adults per day participated. They manned portable kitchens, operated a POD (Point of Distribution) that loaded supplies into 600 to a 1,000 cars per day to feed six counties, unloaded trucks to supply the POD and helped Bass Memorial Academy and the surrounding community with their recovery efforts.
It was the involvement with ACTS (Adventist Community Team Services at the time. Presently GR3) under the leadership of David Canther in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist young people's lives were so profoundly changed that 2Serve has it roots. Over the years involving young people in disaster trainings and responses has evlovloed into the present day 2Serve Disaster Training & Response Team.
2Serve provides opportunities for academy and college age young people and a growing number of adults to serve those impacted by disasters of many kinds. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training is provided to prepare young people and their sponsors to aid their family members and community when a disaster strikes until first responders arrive.
2Serve is an organization whose purpose is to train and utilize young people and supporting adults in times of disaster by providing life changing experiences for them and those they serve. 2Serve is partnering with Adventist academies, universities and conferences along with state organizations to prepare and enable young people to safely come to the aid of survivors after a disaster strikes.