Page 13 - Glory & Grace Issue 11: Why?

2023, South Dakota
Anything else you think KOG should know?
I think I speak on behalf of all the youth when I say, thank you for this amazing opportunity and supporting us even through difficult times. Ministries like this are a blessing!
An interview with Clay Costin, Senior at West High School
Clay Costin (right) is an animated leader and one of the first to raise his hand when help is needed. He participated in two service trips with KOG (Idaho in 2021 and South Dakota in 2023).
Why did you say yes to being on the Rapid City team?
2021, Idaho
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I participated in the Shoshone Mission Trip in 2021 and joined the Rapid City Team to reconnect with the church and to strengthen old and new friendships with my peers and adult mentors. I was excited to serve in a community (not too different than Billings) and to see how much of a positive impact the youth of KOG could make.
What was most challenging for you about the experience?
I think the most challenging thing for me was sleeping in a church with no AC! The second most challenging thing was saying goodbye to all the kids at The Club For Boys (one of our service partners for the week).
Why do you think God put you on this team?
I think God put me on this team to show me that serving others can be fun if you have the right attitude going into it.
In what moments were you most challenged in your faith?
When I first got to my assigned service site (The Club For Boys), I didn’t think what I was doing was really making any difference. After reflecting, I realized that our work was important not just to me, but to those we served! It might have been the first time in a while that one of these kids had a positive mentor. In a way, our work was helping future generations in Rapid City by showing the boys what it means to be a dependable and respectful person.
How do you think this experience shaped your relationship with Christ?
This experience brought me much closer to Christ because I discovered my strengths and really let them shine for others to see.
I think this experience not only brought me closer with the group, but the group a lot closer as a whole because we all got to talk to some new people we may have not spoken with before.
2022, Shopping for Others