!Explore in action

Youth in !Explore this summer have just concluded their group experience and are launching the congregational experience where each works with a pastor to test their gifts in their own congregations.

The group experience was filled with lots of hard work and study, along with learning to know each other, AMBS and the Mennonite church. Here's a quick look at some of what they did.

The group gathered at the AMBS entrance sign after working together to plant a tree on the campus. Included are the event pastors, the videographer and Andy Brubacher Kaethler, director.

Some participants helped prepare soup mixes that Church Community Services sells to support the life-skills program for women.

!Explore youth led worship and assisted in the summer Bible School program offered by Hively Avenue and Prairie Street Mennonite Churches.

They visited the offices of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Mission Network, learning more about the way the larger church works.

Each participant chose a theological question she or he wanted to study and they worked on these in small groups with AMBS professors and researching in the library.