The Adventures In Missions (AIM) group was with us in Childress again last weekend. AIM is an apprentice missions program for college-age young people and is located in Lubbock, Texas. When a college-age young person goes to AIM they spend the first eight months studying God’s Word and training for the field experience. After eight months in Lubbock those students spend a minimum of 14 months on the mission field. Some of the AIM mission fields are Albania, Australia, Brazil, Peru, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Ukraine and the United States.
There were 64 of these AIM students and sponsors in Childress with us. They stayed with our church families and did community work. They served, and they worked. Once again, I have fallen in love with AIM students. They are my heroes.
AIM and mission trips by the Childress congregation have had enough effect on our young people that 5 Childress young people are planning on attending the AIM program in the fall. One of the five is our oldest son Taylor.
Here are a few pictures from the weekend of work in the community…
Cleaning up around town.
Matraca … future AIM student.
One of the three buildings that we painted.
AIM kids and Childress kids. Do you know which two are mine?
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 23 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
AIMers are just cool.
I have had the chance to work with some in the past and it was pure fun ministry. They are up for anything.
Glad your son is going to a part of it/
Kids like this give me great hope for the future of our fellowship.
I almost went into this program when I was a new Christian, but ended up going to Brown Trail instead.
Danny and Odgie – AMEN
Matthew … what pointed you towards B.T.?
Man.. they did a great job!! Excited that Taylor wants to be a part of them…
I am so excited about going to AIM Trey, and camp adventure next week will be awesome…..you should check out my new post.
I’m heading out Saturday to visit my brother in Italy. You met him last year. He is there with AIM.
Trey, there is a different scenario between AIM and Brown Trail. BT is like what used to be called SSOP, training preachers and wives for full-time work. AIM is a one of a kind type of school “aimed” at young people who either will not go to college, or do not yet know what they want to do, and have the opportunity to serve the Lord in this special area for a couple of years. Hopefully this will lead them to mission work full-time. But even if they decide to go to college, their lives are so changed, they will be mission-minded from then on.
We went to NYC to get the first AIM group who were returning from their time in Ireland. They were so hyped, it was really encouraging for us who were in the second year at SSOP. We ended up in NJ, another mission field for us, because we had already gone to Massachusetts with an Exodus group in 1967.
The hair stood up on my neck Friday night when they were sitting around the fellowship hall singing. They sounded awesome. I wish I had known about AIM when I was there age.
Wow…Trey…hard to believe that Taylor is going to AIM…that little boy has grown up!! That’s really awesome, and I know that you and Lea will enjoy the ride with him. Being in AIM was life changing for me…one
of the best decisions I ever made. Wouldn’t it be so cool if Taylor ended up working with James and Erin? I’d like to think that maybe James and I had a small influence on Taylor so long ago, and Parker as well. Those days at Tulia blessed my life tremendously. Thanks for putting up with us!! Blessings to you and your sweet fam!
Flee,
Those were good old days, weren’t they? You guys were awesome for our youth. I know you and James had an influence on my boys.
I believe if I keep placing my kids around people like you, James and AIM … they’ll continue to be influenced.
Thanks for the pictures. I always love pictures of AIMers. 3 of the AIMers in the first pictures are 3 of our 6. I can’t wait for them to be here in Mexico working with us.
I agree with Flee I think it would be great for Taylor to come down to Mexico to work but with us!