During the Christmas break, our city experienced some of the coldest days on record with the temps remaining below freezing for over 48 hours straight. While many teenagers probably spent time sleeping in or playing their game console, that wasn’t the case for one of our middle school students.

TRS seventh grade student Julian Erving felt called to help meet the needs of Jackson's unhoused population during his Christmas break. Middle School ELA Teacher, Ms. Shelia Gilliam, recognized Julian's genuine concern and leadership abilities and encouraged him to take action. She helped him create a plan and to present it to the school administration and challenged his peers to join him.

According to Ms. Gilliam, Julian took on the role of "CEO" of the project, and she became the "CFO." She challenged him to work at the helm on organizing logistics with the school and classmates while she checked with friends, family, and Jackson business owners on potential monetary and gift donations. Together, they gathered supplies like socks from a retired teacher friend, while Julian's peers donated toiletries like toothbrushes and personal hygiene products. One of the most memorable contributions came from a local grocer, who discounted a generous amount of beef, saltine crackers, and other food items.

Julian and Ms. Gilliam thought it was important to package the donations in a way that would be thoughtful of their recipients. On the day of distribution, when temps were in the teens, around 12 students showed up to provide warmth and friendship at Stewpot Opportunity Center and hand out around 60 wrapped shoebox gifts to unhoused community members. The day, and everything leading up to its success, showed the power of student-led ideas, and the impact that can be made when young learners are allowed to take charge and make a difference.

In thinking about TRS' emphasis on student-led discipleship, Ms. Gilliam is reminded of what it says in Luke 12:48 (ESV) - "Everyone to whom much was given, of him, much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”