Sri Lanka - Cheryl Ellis

Friends and Family,

I am so excited to share that this summer I have been invited to help lead a team of 6 high school students as they participate in a Global Teen Leadership Summit at Ape Kedlla in Sri Lanka! The student team will consist of 6 students from Mariners Church Student Ministries and we will work in partnership with almost a dozen of our global church partners and their students. There are multiple reasons why this trip is so exciting to me, but what I really want to explain is what a “Global Teen Leadership Summit” is, and then why I am so stoked to be taking 6 of our students to it!

We are so privileged to have so many wonderful student leaders and world changers as a part of our High School Ministry at Mariners, and we are always looking for opportunities to help students step into God’s calling on their life to truly be a fearless leader… not just in their schools and communities, but in the world. GTLS (Global Teen Leadership Summit) is an opportunity for us to challenge our students to see the world as a much bigger place than their school, neighborhood, Orange County, or even California.

During this summit our students will spend time learning from global speakers, other global teens from 12 different countries, and get a chance to share a little bit about their own culture. One of our biggest goals is that students would walk away with a greater sense of relevant issues teens are facing all over the world, how God is using other teens around the world to shape their culture, and how they can develop relationships on a global scale and be a part of what God is doing. In addition, we will be spending time with a local church in Sri Lanka called Kithu Sevana Ministries, as well as spend time serving in the local community. The serve opportunities we have on this trip will challenge our student leaders to see how other teens are living and working in other countries, come alongside them and encourage them to see that their life holds great value.

Personally, I have spent that last few years with the students we are taking on this trip and I have been watching them, sometimes struggle and sometimes peacefully, grow closer to Jesus and the purpose he has marked their life with. For me, this is one of the greatest joys of my life and something I am continually grateful for and humbled to be a part of. Every time I hang out with students I am reminded of four things… how valuable they are, how much we need them, how much they need to know we love them and how much we need to pour into them as a generation of leaders. Students are at times a bit crazy, yes, but they are also full of life, energy and boldness; they are smart, funny, clever, and they have this exciting ability to see the world with a fresh and hopeful perspective. That’s why we need students and teenagers who are leaders to step up and influence positive change globally that points people to Jesus and hope. They are not just our future generation of leaders, but they are current leaders… and they are exciting and ready to go! I am thrilled to walk alongside students as they go on this journey to be a leader on a global scale.  

Please pray for our students as they prepare for such a life changing trip. In addition, please pray for me and the other adult leaders who are leading the team of students. As in all trips like this, the journey to it is typically filled with struggles, uncertainty and doubt… and at the same time an anticipation and excitement of all the God has in store. I would truly appreciate any prayers as I prepare for this trip… that I would be able to lead these students well and that God would protect, and give rest to our team. Oh, and Sri Lanka is going to be so hot that I’m pretty sure my face might melt off… so if you think of me and my team anytime between August 9^th-19^th, pray for a large breeze to come my way and maybe even for a snow ball to randomly fall into my hand. That would be nice.

If you feel that you would like to be a part of the trip through finances as well, then please click the “give now” button on this page. If you would like to send a check then please make it out to Mariners Church and in the memo line add “Sri Lanka – Cheryl Ellis.”

I am so excited to be on this journey and invite you in to be a part of it! Please stay tuned as I will be updating and sharing more information on this trip!

Cheryl Ellis