Spreading seasonal cheer is what young people were doing at the Neighbor to Neighbor Community Service Center in Berrien Springs, Michigan. This activity was the third facet of Blended SEWP, a Berrien Springs Village Church Thursday night youth ministry. It's a creative attempt to meet the different needs in a young person’s spiritual development: Studying, Eating, Working, and Playing. The four facets of SEWP are cycled through the month. This week was ‘Work’ week.

If you had been there, you would have seen enthusiastic young people talking, laughing, and sharing life while actively serving others. Wrapping paper and Scotch tape were the decor as they wrapped presents that would be given to the children of clients who came to the Neighbor to Neighbor center over the holidays. While the wrapped packages may not have won artistic awards, the spirit in which they were wrapped made them beautiful.

Although the young people were missing out on homework and/or “Must See TV,” they didn't mind. They felt good about giving back to their community and having fun with friends. As they worked, many were wondering about the children and the happiness they would have receiving the presents.

“SEWP helps us learn to give freely to others,” says Cherri, a SEWP member. “SEWP is 'thingabangorangataning' fun,” said Justin and Andy, long-time SEWP members. Parents love SEWP because it involves their youth in meaningful church-sponsored activities. SEWP also gives the young people a sense of ownership—ownership of their church as well as their own spiritual growth.

The young people wrapped books, toys, stuffed animals, and games. This wasn't the first time they had wrapped gifts this season. On an earlier "Work" week, they wrapped care packages for children all over the world through Operation Christmas Child, www.samaritanspurse.org.

Although these SEWP activities are fun, they are not without their learning points. They help youth look at their community from a different perspective. They open their eyes to the needs of the surrounding and the global community they live in.

Shayne Daughenbaugh works at the Center for Youth Evangelism as editor of Giraffe News.