Mackinac Servant Youth Event

St. Thomas Lutheran Church, ELCA

332 South Western Avenue

PO Box 57

Cheboygan, Michigan, 49721

PURPOSE

To motivate youth into discovery, understanding and appreciation of people and communities of diverse culture and lifestyles and stimulate their spiritual, emotional and intellectual development through service opportunities. To equip them for continuing service in their communities and to empower and transform lives and communties through serving and being served in the mind and manner of Christ.

HISTORY

The Mackinac Servant Youth Event has been taking place every summer since 1995, hosting youth groups from Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin and southern Michigan. We have worked with Habitat for Humanity, local food pantry and soup kitchens, low income senior housing and women's and youth centers, to name a few. The M.S.Y.E. celebrated it's 5th anniversary by embarking on a new venture: working with the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper's Association to help with restoration work on the historic light station located on St. Helena Island in Lake Michigan. Read more about St. Helena below!

LOCATION

The Mackinac Servant Youth Event is hosted by the ELCA and St. Thomas Ev. Lutheran Church in Cheboygan, Michigan. We are located at the "tip of the mitt", 15 miles southeast of the Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan's lower and upper peninsulas.

OpportunitY to serve: St. Helena Island

St. Helena Island is located 6.5 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Environmentally, the island has a great blue heron rookery, diverse plant life that includes three threatened species and a variety of other wildlife. The island was settled as a shipping, supply and fishing community in the middle 1800's. At its peak, the community contained 225 residents. The beacon of the light station was first lit on September 20, 1873 and has safely guided ships around the shoals and through the Straits of Mackinac for many years. Restoration began in 1986 and in 1988 the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historical Places in recognition of its maritime significance and heritage. Today the island is a "ghost"island with no permanent residents. M.S.Y.E. groups live on the island for a week experiencing life much as it was in the 1800's as there are no telephones, running water, or electricity.

In 2001, the Little Traverse Conservancy made steps to purchase the 266 acre island and plan to dedicate it as a nature preserve, protecting it as a place for all nature lovers and historians to come and enjoy the beauty of the Straits of Mackinac.

OPPORTUNiTIES TO RELATE

The youth have opportunities to relate to and learn about their fellow participants, the host congregation, themselves and Christ through Bible studies, journaling and interaction with other volunteers and community leaders. There are times set aside to reflect on their experience and think about how they can utilize what they've learned in their own lives and communities.

MACKINAC ISLAND

After a week of hard work, the M.S.Y.E. group is treated of a "Fun Day" on historical Mackinac Island. This island is located east of the Mackinac Bridge and has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. Hundreds of years before Europeans arrived, the Native Americans called the island the "large turtle". Many of the island's 500 year-round residents can trace their family history back to Native Americans ancestors. In 1779, during the American Revolution, Fort Mackinac was moved to the high cliffs of the island from present day Mackinaw City to better protect it from attacks by American Rebels. The island has many attractions including the famous "Grand Hotel". Visitors travel the island via bicycle or horse carriage as automobiles are not allowed on the island.

GROUP INFO

The M.S.Y.E. hosts groups of teens and young adults ages 14 to 20 years old (advisors, age 21 & up)

We request groups are no large than 20 people total, so that we can adequately serve each individual's needs.

COST

$150 per person which includes all meals, lodging, worksite materials and tools, round trip to Mackinac Island with spending stipend for each participant, event t-shirt, water bottle and journal. Once your application has been approved, a $20 deposit for each participant is required and can be applied toward the total cost.

CONTACT

If you have questions, or would like to request an application, please contact us at one of the following:

st_thomas@sbcglobal.net

St. Thomas Ev. Lutheran Church/PO Box 57/Cheboygan MI 49721

Phone: 231/627-3167

...THROUGH LOVE BE SERVANTS OF ONE ANOTHER. FOR THE WHOLE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Galatians 5:12-14

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