LUCAS — A Teens for Christ Disaster Team mission crew from Phillipsburg traveled to Russell County this week to provide relief to families affected by the 4-County Fires last December. Janice Lundquist with Teens for Christ said 13 teens, three college-age interns, three other staff and one adult volunteer headed to Lucas on Tuesday.

Over the years, summer mission trips have taken the Phillipsburg youths to Mississippi and even to foreign countries. This year the organizers looked closer to home for an area that had experienced some type of hardship.

“The 4-County Fires took place just about 60 miles away from us,” she said.

The team planned to stay in Lucas and work west of Paradise, pitching in “for at least two different families who lost almost everything,” Lundquist said.

“Plans are to start helping build a shed and to pick up fencing that was destroyed,” she said. “It will be hard work – and a bit stretching for the team of students on our team. And the locals have clearly told us that rattlesnakes are known to be in the area and that we need to stay aware!”

A second team from the Teens for Christ group will go on a SPLASH trip next week. Lundquist described that as a trip where “we allow God to lead us on as the adventure unfolds!” The unnamed destination is again within a day’s drive of Phillipsburg.

“Our prayer has always been that as we take teenagers on these trips that their faith journey will be impacted so they will continue to have an impact on the kingdom of God,” Lundquist said.