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20th Anniversary – CSM Impact
Tim Osborne (right) and former student, Jason (left), unpack cantaloupes at a food bank
Tim Osborne started bringing groups to CSM during his first year as a youth pastor. He had never been on a mission trip before, but wanted to introduce his youth to something outside of their comfort zone. In his own words, Tim “kinda had a bad attitude about short-term missions.” He definitely thought there was value in short-term trips, but was highly skeptical, especially in part to the financial aspect. Why on earth would he send these (though wonderful) kids to build something, if he wouldn’t ever have them build his own house?
Tim’s wife, Kara, went on a hunt to find an effective, life-changing opportunity for their youth group. She stumbled upon CSM’s booth at the National Youth Worker’s Convention in St. Louis and came across a flyer that she brought back to Tim. He was impressed by the quotes from “youth ministry big wigs” and began to investigate CSM as well. He liked the idea of going into an urban environment because “it changes one’s life attitude toward world missions.” It would allow his students to serve at their level—and see that this act of service can continue right on at home.
As Tim went on his first pre-visit in Washington, DC with City Director, Mark Harmon, he was truly impressed with the respect all of the ministry sites had for CSM.
“Every partner ministry site thinks CSM is the best,” he remembers, “Mark Harmon rocked my world for Jesus when he told me ‘We give a hand up, not a hand out’.”
During his first mission trip to Washington, DC, Tim was introduced to Third Street Prayer Breakfast and was blown away by it’s ministry to the homeless community of our nation’s capital. One morning a homeless man wandered into a pastor’s meeting at a local congregation. His simple inquiry for food has developed into a breakfast ministry every morning since. Tim loved that his group’s only job while at Third Street Prayer Breakfast was to sit and pay attention to those who are ignored all the time.
While serving in Chicago one year, Tim was impacted by the ministry one of his 16 year-old students had. He had always been a servant-minded kid, and even sacrificed baseball to go on the trip, but he was really quiet. The group got sent to Casa Central, an organization serving the large Hispanic population in Chicago. His particular serving group went to play with the older kids (junior-high age). They played pool, games, did some crafts and ended with some softball. Just as their time was coming to a close and his group began to say their goodbyes, Tim noticed his 16-year old close to tears. Some of the junior-high boys were hugging him, begging him not to go. As they departed the boys ran along the fence waving goodbye. It struck Tim—these boys honestly loved his student. As that student served them, he “got it”—he was able to serve in his capacity. He discovered the fact that, though he was young, he can serve and make a difference in someone else’s life.
Over the years, Tim has seen some major transformations in the students he brings on CSM trips. Catherine is one of them. As she prepared for her first trip, she was worried and anxious, but it was the little tasks (like breaking down boxes at a food bank) that gave her a heart for service. It increased her courage to step out of the box as well. She even stepped up to initiate conversation with some girls on the street in Toronto. Tara (CSM Toronto Co-City Director) had always challenged students to do so, but never actually had anyone take her up on it before. You can read more about Catherine’s experience of serving in the city by checking out a testimony she wrote after a CSM trip.
“One of the things we do every year when we get back home is that we have the mission trip team lead a Sunday morning worship service in September,” says Tim, “The kids run the whole service and several of them share their testimonies. This is a powerful thing every year. I remember the first year we did it, one of the students said that at the beginning of the trip she wasn’t sure she really wanted to go, but by the end she realized it was one of the best experiences of her life. These testimonies are amazing because they are heartfelt, honest, real and they blow the rest of our congregation away.”
Lastly, one of Tim’s favorite aspects of leading groups to CSM is that “a lot of what you do on a CSM trip are the types of serving that you can do when you get back home. So—it not only empowers students to serve one week a year, or even to develop a mission-minded lifestyle, but it prepares them to serve back at home. They can go be part of the solution right now in their own community. I have seen kids do this and it is fantastic. It is a God-thing.”
It’s a blessing to have Tim and his groups serve alongside us each year. The ministries in our cities LOVE seeing people come back again and again. Lives are touched and hearts are turned to God—thanks to Tim’s faithfulness and perseverance to be Christ’s hands and feet in the city.
Do you have a story to share from a CSM trip? Email us!
