Last Sunday, First Free Will Baptist of Washington held a groundbreaking ceremony, celebrating the kick-off of its new expansion projects. The church is adding a 1,600-square-foot welcome center and expanding its sanctuary to accommodate an additional 100 seats, making room for its growing congregation.

At the groundbreaking, the church had several subgroups within the church participate by turning over a shovel of dirt. One group to participate was the church’s youth group, which plays an active role in the church’s outreach ministry.

Senior Pastor Todd Parrish commented on the church’s desire for the youth group to be an important component of the groundbreaking due to its continuous involvement in the church’s ministries, particularly mission trips. The group has participated in several mission trips, including trips to France, Bulgaria and the jungles of Ecuador. Members of the youth group, mainly high school students, gave up their spring break to go to Ecuador and minister to youth there this past spring.

What Parrish and First Free Will Baptist are teaching the youth is an important part of securing the future of the church. The youth are being taught how to lead and have fun while serving God. Allowing them to have important roles within the church gives them not only a sense of purpose and responsibility, but will also enable them to gain leadership skills that they can pass down to their youth members one day.

Another positive thing about including the youth members in the ceremony is the fact they will remember and appreciate being a part of the church’s expansion project. They will also appreciate what the expansion means for the church — making room for a growing congregation and a growing church.