Dreaming and Scheming to Move from Mission to Advocacy
By - Rev. Mallory Yanchus, Deacon: Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Justice Ministries, First UMC - Madison
One of my favorite things as a pastor who works with youth is to dream and scheme with them. Last fall when it was time to start thinking about a summer mission trip, I asked our youth, “What if, instead of traveling far away this year, we stayed in Wisconsin and learned about the needs and injustices in our own communities?” Their response filled me with pride for our younger generations. Eyes lit up and responses like, “Yeah, we should definitely be learning about our own home!” created an excited energy about the idea.
As we got to work planning, it quickly became clear that other churches were interested in joining us. I connected with the leaders from Bethany UMC (Madison) and Park Ridge Community Church UCC (Park Ridge, IL), and our three groups planned our week together.
In July, our dreaming and scheming came to life as we embarked on our Youth Mission Week in Wisconsin. We spent a few days in Milwaukee, helping Rooted and Rising do some upkeep of their building and grounds and learning about the housing and hunger crisis in their neighborhood. We met with Rev. Tina Itson (UMC Deacon) from the ACLU, who shared with us how faith can inform the justice work happening in secular spaces. Then we came home to Madison where we learned more about food insecurity, serving at Second Harvest and First UMC’s weekly Wednesday morning breakfast.
We wrapped up our time of serving and learning with a day of justice advocacy with Rev. Breanna Illéné of the Wisconsin Council of Churches. The group learned the difference between community care and justice and how they are both critical parts of doing faith-rooted advocacy. We followed this with a tour of the capitol and a conversation with Sophie Coronelli, Legislative Assistant for Alex Joers.
While we were calling this “Youth Mission Week,” it was much more than mission. Did we partner with a few local organizations who had us do some volunteer work? Absolutely! But it was important to us that we gave the youth a combination of mission work and justice advocacy. I appreciate the way the WCC uses the language “community care” and “justice” to talk about the two necessary parts of faith-based advocacy. The term “mission” is loaded with baggage from harmful “white savior” type work that, in reality, doesn’t offer much long-term good (but certainly makes those serving feel good about themselves). In talking about community care as helping people in need and justice as helping to solve a systemic problem, we can see how important both are as we seek to be part of God’s love in our communities.
It was incredible seeing these teenagers meaningfully engage in conversation and learning about community care and justice advocacy. Our youngest generations have so much at stake to flourish in today’s state of the world. As faith leaders, it is our job to equip them with the language, resources, and support to use their voices and stand up for a more just and loving world. Our youth can and should lead us now! Here are just a few ways this can look:
Introducing youth to local non-profits who need volunteers.
Choosing a mission/service-learning-based organization that’s rooted in their own community to visit and learn about needs in other parts of the country/world.
Creating bible studies and discussions that inspire youth to use their faith as a springboard for their passions.
Helping youth learn how to make their voices and opinions heard by politicians and community leaders.
I’m already dreaming and scheming about next summer! Our partnership with the Wisconsin Council of Churches was an incredible way for our youth to learn about community care and justice and offer tangible ways for them to do something about the issues they care about. First United Methodist Church in Madison is one block from our state capitol. What would it look like if we offered our space and created a justice advocacy experience that MORE churches could bring their youth groups to? Stay tuned as we continue turning our dreaming and scheming into plans!
First Presbyterian Church in Hudson also brought a multigenerational group to Madison in August to serve around the city and learn about advocacy. They worked at Pres House on campus, First United Methodist Church, and Common Grace and then visited the capitol for a tour and a meeting with the staff from their state senator's office. Advocacy trips are great for all ages!
