The Melfort Evangelical Covenant Church (MECC) youth group won't be going to CHIC this year, however. The youth group instead has taken the CHIC acronym and defined their own moniker - Caring Hearts Imitating Christ. The nine who had committed to attending CHIC had raised $6,000 to pay for their expenses. After hearing the compelling story of another youth group, however, they decided instead to donate their trip money to the group First Nations kids who wanted to serve in a mission to Mexico. Here is an excerpt of the church youth group's story, reprinted from a recent Canada Conference newsletter.

. . . For the past 18 months or more, the youth steadfastly and diligently worked hard towards the daunting goal of raising $15,000 to attend CHIC, but in December 2002 (with the early deadline for registering looming) they only had $6,000. They were challenged by their parents and leaders to pray for God's wisdom in whether they were to pursue the dream of CHIC or look at another option for their money, perhaps a short-term mission trip . . .

For almost 14 years, Neal and Darcy Alsbach have been local missionaries with NAIM (North American Indian Ministries) and have served at the Kinistin Reserve among the Salteaux people of the area. The Alsbachs (and their four children) have called MECC their church for 10 years. One Sunday in January, Neal Alsbach shared that his annual missions trip to Mexico with the First Nations youth was in financial peril. He shared that he and Darcy were willing to take the step of faith and obedience and pay for the trip themselves. Unbeknownst to the Alsbachs and the rest of the church, some of the CHIC youth were also listening and were willing to take the same step of faith and obedience that the Alsbachs were willing to take.

Later that week there was a meeting of the CHIC youth and parents. The youth presented the idea that they wanted to give $3,000 of their CHIC money to the Kinistin youth for the Mexico trip. A month later, Neal Alsbach and other leaders accompanied seven young men from the Kinistin youth to Mexico. Some shared their testimonies at a chapel service to 100 people and five from the group were baptized.

Said MECC student Joelle Link, "I was disappointed in missing CHIC and had prayed to God to provide the funds to go, but when the money wasn't coming in I knew that God had a different plan. I just wasn't sure what His plan was. Through the Alsbachs, God revealed His plan and I was willing to obey." Added Nicole McRae, "This was a great opportunity for the Kinistin youth and I knew they would get a thousand times more out of their trip than I ever would. This was better than any youth retreat (and) the Alsbachs are God's willing servants and that inspired me to give part of our CHIC money. I think God blessed us as much as He blessed them."