Maricopa Nazarene Church teens participate in 30-hour famine event; elementary students excel at winter retreat

Maricopa’s Nazarene Church youth group members raised $274 through donation items to help the millions of starving and hurting children in some of the world’s poorest countries, offering them a hope they could not otherwise have.

The teens, under the direction of Youth Group leaders Jonathan and Kyla Medina, began their “famine” on Friday, February 24, at 2 p.m. and ended it on Saturday, February 25, at 8 p.m. The teen group went 30 hours without food, so that they could have a real taste of what hunger was like. During this time they engaged in different activities, from community service projects to volunteer work, praise, worship, fun and games.

Teens work to clear weeds and debris from the yard of one of Maricopa’s senior citizens.

At the end of the famine, the teens were more than ready for pizza and wings, but they were mindful that some were not so lucky to have a plate of food ready and waiting for them at the end of the day.

For many in the world, hunger is a way of life. The money raised will be sent to World Vision, which will put it to work in areas like Kenya, Sudan, and here in the United States.

Each year the Maricopa Nazarene Church’s scouting group, Caravans, holds an annual winter retreat. Part of this camping experience includes the Arizona Nazarene District children participating in badge work, memory, olympics and talent.

The Maricopa Nazarene Church took six Caravan students to camp this year (grades 1- 6). The primary group participated in badge work for Field Trip (Albertson’s Grocery) and Missions, meeting Marilyn Grinder, a missionary from Africa. The middler group participated in collecting and stewardship badge work. Archery and missions, also with Marilyn Grinder, were the areas of interest for the intermediate group.

Recognition of several of the Caravan children provided great excitement. Each year these children practice memorization of the basic beliefs of the church with supporting Bible memory. There are four articles of faith consisting of four to five statements of belief each and two to three Bible verses each, for a total of 16-20 statements of belief and 8-12 Bible verses. The students then recite these to judges at the camp.

Gold medals with distinction are awarded to those students reciting with perfect recitation. Gold and silver medals are awarded to those students reciting with almost perfect recitation. Bronze medals are awarded to children missing small sections but with the basic memory intact.

Award winners: (front row, left to right) Shaia Sharp, Noah Jackson, Sarah Shively, (back row) Director Stephanie Sharp, Max Ferraro, Bailey Cordoba and Shelby Sharp.

Receiving awards on behalf of the Maricopa Nazarene Church were: Shelby Sharp, Shaia Sharp and Bailey Cordoba, all Gold w/distinction, Max Ferraro, Silver and Noah Jackson, Gold. The church is proud of the hard work and efforts of all its children.

(Information courtesy of Reverend Todd Sharp and Pastor Stephanie Sharp)