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Jacob Rockwell of Boonsboro has worked as a touring evangelist for four months. He is with Youth Encounter. (By Colleen McGrath/Staff Photographer / December 27, 2012) |
Jacob Rockwell has a tough job. The Boonsboro native has a year-long position as a member of a Youth Encounter team, bringing the Christian message to youth groups and nursing homes in northern Midwest states.
But that's not the tough part.
The tough part is ministering to people who are deeply hurting or who have questions about their relationship with God. After Rockwell and his teammates present an inspirational, musical program, team members mingle with the audience and minister one on one.
Sometimes the conversations get emotional. Rockwell said he listens and tries to offer support.
"For us, it's not necessarily to uphold any particular view or way of life on them, or even our own point of view," Rockwell said. "What we're there to do is to tell them, 'You're loved, you're worthwhile. I don't need to know who you are, or what you've done. You're worth my time.'"
Rockwell, 20, graduated from Boonsboro High School in 2010. Youth Encounter is an independent, Lutheran nonprofit organization. Rockwell spoke with The Herald-Mail from home, during a holiday break from his evangelism duties.
H-M: Tell me about what you do.
Rockwell: Youth Encounter forms teams of young adults, and then they send us out to different parts of the country. And there are some international teams. We go to different churches, spend time with youth groups. We also go to nursing homes, some schools. We try to spread the gospel, as well as just hang out with the kids and the people we're with and get to know them.
How did you get involved in Youth Encounter?
I had met someone who was on a team when I was still in high school. I had thought about it, but hadn't really looked into it. Then, coming in to this stage of finishing my first few years in college, I didn't have anything to do. I finished freshman year at Malone University in Ohio, and (I wasn't) headed in any specific direction. I looked into (Youth Encounter) a little bit more, and filled out an application.
What is Youth Encounter looking for in team members?
They like us to have a general faith and set of beliefs in what God is and who God is. One of the main ways we work with kids is through music, so there is a music audition. That's not their primary focus, but there is an audition. I sing and play guitar.
How long will you be involved?
August (2012) to August (2013).
Where did you go for this tour?
We started out in Minnesota — the organization is based out of St. Paul. Then we went to a camp in Wisconsin (for) a month of training. We went to Iowa for a bit, Kansas for a bit, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a bit, and a few other states.
When you're working with kids, what are you trying to do?
Our ministry is about planting seeds — providing a safe environment (for people) to open up and tell us about their lives, what they're going through.
So how does it go?
But that's not the tough part.
The tough part is ministering to people who are deeply hurting or who have questions about their relationship with God. After Rockwell and his teammates present an inspirational, musical program, team members mingle with the audience and minister one on one.
Sometimes the conversations get emotional. Rockwell said he listens and tries to offer support.
"For us, it's not necessarily to uphold any particular view or way of life on them, or even our own point of view," Rockwell said. "What we're there to do is to tell them, 'You're loved, you're worthwhile. I don't need to know who you are, or what you've done. You're worth my time.'"
Rockwell, 20, graduated from Boonsboro High School in 2010. Youth Encounter is an independent, Lutheran nonprofit organization. Rockwell spoke with The Herald-Mail from home, during a holiday break from his evangelism duties.
H-M: Tell me about what you do.
Rockwell: Youth Encounter forms teams of young adults, and then they send us out to different parts of the country. And there are some international teams. We go to different churches, spend time with youth groups. We also go to nursing homes, some schools. We try to spread the gospel, as well as just hang out with the kids and the people we're with and get to know them.
How did you get involved in Youth Encounter?
I had met someone who was on a team when I was still in high school. I had thought about it, but hadn't really looked into it. Then, coming in to this stage of finishing my first few years in college, I didn't have anything to do. I finished freshman year at Malone University in Ohio, and (I wasn't) headed in any specific direction. I looked into (Youth Encounter) a little bit more, and filled out an application.
What is Youth Encounter looking for in team members?
They like us to have a general faith and set of beliefs in what God is and who God is. One of the main ways we work with kids is through music, so there is a music audition. That's not their primary focus, but there is an audition. I sing and play guitar.
How long will you be involved?
August (2012) to August (2013).
Where did you go for this tour?
We started out in Minnesota — the organization is based out of St. Paul. Then we went to a camp in Wisconsin (for) a month of training. We went to Iowa for a bit, Kansas for a bit, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a bit, and a few other states.
When you're working with kids, what are you trying to do?
Our ministry is about planting seeds — providing a safe environment (for people) to open up and tell us about their lives, what they're going through.
So how does it go?
