When 26 young adults from Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Ham Lake, Minnesota, arrived at Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) on July 18, they came ready to serve. College students, recent graduates, and young professionals brought a wide range of skills and experiences, but they also brought something far more meaningful –a desire to share Christ’s love through acts of service.
For many of them, this was not their first trip to the Borderland.
Several members of the team first came to YLM as eighth graders. Today, they are teachers, IT professionals, managers, engineers, and newly married couples. While much has changed in their lives over the years, one thing has remained constant: their desire to return and serve. What began as a week-long mission trip during middle school has become a lifelong commitment to living out their faith through service.
One evening over dinner, 27-year-old Christian reflected on the impact these mission trips have had, not only on his own life but also on his congregation.
“I’ve noticed how these mission trips always increase our numbers afterwards,” he shared. “They bring in new believers, and even people who are searching, to our church.”
Christian understands that impact firsthand. He first came to YLM as an eighth grader and returned year after year. During the 2024 Young Adult Servant Event, he met Grace, who had joined the trip after accepting an invitation from a friend at Family of Christ. Their shared week of serving became the beginning of their relationship, and today they return to YLM as husband and wife. This summer, they were joined by six other dating couples and another married couple, each discovering how serving together strengthens both faith and relationships.
Their investment extended far beyond their own team.
After raising funds to build two homes for families in Ciudad Juárez, the young adults welcomed four first-time volunteers from Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. The women had heard about YLM through the secretary at South Shore Lutheran Church and wanted to begin serving, but with only four volunteers, they hoped to partner with another team.
Family of Christ welcomed them without hesitation.
Several of the young women stepped away from the construction sites to join the Christ the Servant team in their ministry for the week –a four-day Vacation Bible School at Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia. Together, they shared Bible stories, songs, crafts, games, and the love of Christ with more than 200 children, youth, and adults from the surrounding community.
Their willingness to set aside one project to help with the other team’s project reflected the heart of servant leadership. Rather than focusing only on building houses, they recognized another opportunity to build God’s Kingdom by helping ensure hundreds of children and families heard the Gospel and experienced the love of Christ.
This is one of the lasting fruits of YLM’s Servant Event ministry.
When churches faithfully invest in mission opportunities, God often does far more than accomplish a week’s worth of projects. He shapes hearts for a lifetime. Students become servant-hearted adults. Friends become ministry partners. Some even meet future spouses while serving together. Congregations return home encouraged, new people become connected to the Church, and faith continues to grow through lives transformed by the Gospel.
At YLM, we give thanks for partnerships like Family of Christ Lutheran Church that have faithfully invested in missions for generations. Their story is a reminder that when God’s people answer His call to serve, the impact reaches far beyond a single week. It continues through families, congregations, and communities for years to come, all for the glory of Christ.
If you are interested in serving through YLM’s Servant Event Ministry, give us a call at (915) 858-2588 or send an email to luz.soto@ylm.org
