Stories From We Care Pittsburgh

In the Saturday evening session, Larry Everett, We Care Coordinator, brought Monique Aites, We Care Assistant Coordinator, onto the stage to thank her for all the work she did. “Monique did all the work that I got credit for," said Larry.

The afternoon was all about what God did, Larry emphasized. Time was given during the session for students and adults to share stories of the afternoon. Larry told the story of a group that gave a lady $150 to fix a plumbing problem. The lady cried when they gave her the money.

Dawn told of meeting a woman in McKees Rocks and encouraging her since the woman was already a believer.

Stephanie said she got to pray for a lady’s husband and grandchildren

Jessica told how she met a lady named Terry in McKees Rocks who thought she had sinned too much. They read Bible references to her and prayed for her.

Cassidy told the story of delivering food and talking to a non-believer. The girls gave the lady one of their Bibles and think she’ll start going to church.

John gave food to people and met a man named Ed who only had a year to live. Walking around his house, John saw the condition the man lived in and it broke his heart for this man.

Brian walked through the streets of McKees Rocks looking for people to help. None of the people they talked to responded to the Gospel. But it was encouraging that their youth group was obedient to God.

Toby’s group went window washing. A guy came out and thanked them. They got to talking with him and he gave his life to the Lord.

Natalie’s group went house-to-house to get kids to come to a park. People were telling them there weren’t any kids in the neighborhood. Natalie prayed for an opportunity to play with a kid. Then she say a kid and asked him to play basketball. At first he ignored her, but then went and got a basketball. More kids came and they played basketball for two hours straight.

Many more students were waiting in line, but there wasn’t time for them to share.

Larry ended by reading the theme verse. “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

More We Care Pittsburgh Stories.

First Grace Brethren Church in Dayton, OH, went to Earthen Vessels Outreach in downtown Pittsburgh. They helped renovate a 115 year old church for youth ministry.

Students went into the neighborhood washing windows and talking with people as they went. When they came back to the park, more kids had gathered. So the groups gave out balls and squirt guns.

Some of the students had really good conversations with people in the neighborhood.

Jacinta from Rialto California
"We were taking boxes to houses and at our first house the woman, Deborah, answered the door. She was very grateful. Then we asked if we could pray for her, and she was shocked. I asked if there was anything specific we could pray for her about and she told us she had breast cancer. After we prayed, she was in tears and told us that she appreciated the boxes, but what meant the most to her were our prayers for her. "

Bryanna, Kaddie, and Kaitlyn from Lititz, Pa.
"We got to pray with a woman named Rose whose husband had just passed away."

Matt, Ashley, and Kaddie from Lititz, Pa.
"We got to pray with a woman whose family is falling apart. Both her son and daughter are separated."

Leesburg Grace Brethren Church in Leesburg, Ind.
"We 'mowed' Helen’s (87 year old recovering from heart surgery) yard with a hand scythe. She was soon to be fined $300 for not having her lawn mowed. Also, we pulled her weeds, vacuumed her house, and washed her siding and windows.

Jade from Lititz, Pa.
"I was able to talk and pray with Joan. She asked if we could all pray for G20, which is occurring September 24-25. Just that there would be no violence issues. God is good."

John and Tayler from Bowling Green/Loveland, Ohio
"We met with a man named 'Ed'. Ed has schizophrenia and lung cancer. We talked to him and saw his poor excuse for a house. He smoked a lot. He was brought up Catholic. He has a year to live. He is 53 but looks 63. Our prayer is that Ed would personally know Jesus. We talked for a few hours. We love Ed. He opened our eyes to what it’s really like to live in that area."

"Today we met a little girl named Karson. She was no older than 6 and barely knew how to speak. She was left alone so some kids came and brought her to a kids program we put on. However, she was left alone at the playground by the kids who picked her up, and that is when we found her. She was a sweet little girl and was really desperate for love. She lives with her grandpa and has no parents. We played with her and gave her food. She had fun but she seemed hungry. Pray that she stays safe and that someday God can rescue her and work in her heart."

Grace Chapel (Mechanicsville, MD)
"Today during outreach, our youth group met a woman named Josephine. She had a plumbing problem but could not afford to pay $150.00. Then one of our Fusion students suggested we all add in $10 a piece. We went straight to an ATM and withdrew $150. We put the money in one of the boxed lunches and gave it to her. When she discovered the money we explained what it was for. She began to cry and we could see God’s blessings."

Ashley from Macedonia, Ohio
"My group met this lady named Donna and she was so filled with joy when we installed a fire alarm for her and washed her windows. Then our leader talked to her and she told how she lost her husband last fall and you could tell she was lonely. And if she didn’t refinance her home she was going to lose it. So our leader asked if we could pray for her and she didn’t want that right there because she didn’t want to cry in front of us. So then we prayed for her in a big group."

Carly from Macedonia, Ohio
"The first house Erik and I went to we prayed with a girl who struggles with cutting herself and drugs and attended a church that had no passion for the Lord."

Grace Church in Waldorf, MD Youth Group
"While picking up trash, we met two kids and their mother. We talked with them, prayed with them and did the Cross Illustration. We took pictures too and got their address to send the pictures to them."

Cori from Winona Lake, Ind.
"Today I/we stumbled onto people setting up for a block party in Aliquippa that was in memory of a boy killed in May. It was an outreach program that eventually drew in our whole group. Two leaders wanted to prevent future killings due to destructive behavior. They were drawing kids in to tell them about God."

Allisa from Community Grace Brethren Church
"Ana and I sat on the grass next to the street and waved at people driving by. We talked to one lady who seemed very encouraged by our efforts!"

Jimmy from Lititz, Pa.
"We had lunch while listening to people share stories, found out the people were going through a rough time with their church and that the man (Doug) was out of a job, and prayed for them and encouraged them."

Cody from Middletown Grace Brethren Church
"We washed a guys window and we were done so we left but he said thanks and I came back to him and brought him to Christ"


Beth, Ryan, Melissa, Heidi, and Ben from Macedonia, Ohio
"As we were picking up trash 3 kids came to help us. We ended up being able to talk with them, show the Cross Illustration, and play games."


Drew, Ashley, and Maci from Lititz, Pa.
"A five year old boy who had been attacked by a pit bull on his face and on his leg. He has a rough home life and he had never heard of Jesus except for a mocking joke on “Family Guy”. We showed him the Cross Illustration and told him about Jesus, so we prayed for him and he accepted Jesus in his heart."

Leah, Adriana, and Ashley from Lititz, Pa
"We got to talk to this lady at a gazebo and she wanted us to pray for her friend Jackie with leg problems and her husband with cancer."

Leach, Ashley, Kaddie, and Adrianna from Lititz, Pa.
"We got to pray with a man who is struggling with finances and he was very touched."

Amanda from Johnstown, Pa
"When we got to Olympia Park no one was there so we wrote Bible verses in chalk on the ground. Still no one came and I began to feel let down that no one was coming and I kept praying God would give me a chance to talk to someone. After we ate we saw that two little girls had come to the playground. Some of my friends had been talking to them and when I went over and we taught them songs, dances, we played on the swings, and played on the swings, and played hide and seek.

"Before we were about to leave the mother called her daughter over to get her blood sugar and the little girl wanted me to go with her and she told her mom I was her new friend. I also used this opportunity to ask if I could take their picture so I could put it in my Bible so I could pay for them. Their mom and dad we so happy they said gladly because prayer works and I told them thank you and I would be praying for their daughters and that their daughters already answered my prayer."

Brittany from Johnstown, Pa.
"Today was really cool because we got to pray with a lot of little kids and share the Word of God with them."

Nicholas from Canton, Ohio
"An older lady named Ruth is losing her sight and hearing and she lives alone. She let us work in her home."

Diane, a resident from West Hills Baptist
"My names I Diane. I’m 17 years old in a family of three and I just wanted to remind you all of how much we appreciate you. Everything you’re doing for my family and many others is amazing. Thank you."