Al-Yasim Mozell
The early teen years for Al-Yasim Mozell could have a little more fun in them if church outings included visits to Sky Zone, where he and his friends from St. Matthew A.M.E. could play video games.
Mozell, 14, lives with Jessie Mozell, his great-grandmother and a member of St. Matthew in Orange, New Jersey. His aunt, Tency Eason, is also a member of St. Matthew. He is a middle school student where English classes and drills in gym and playing baseball are his favorites.
Mozell has been a member of the youth choir for two years, is an active usher and participates in Generation for Christ (G4C), the church's youth ministry. He does not have a favorite song or hymn but "enjoys singing whatever they tell us," he said.
He participates every fourth Sunday when G4C has an active role during the church service. He especially enjoys being a part of the Media team at St. Matthew. "I'm a back-up person if someone is not here," he said. The team sets up the Sunday service so it can be watched on YouTube, Mozell said. "We control the cameras, the speakers and the microphones," he said.
He likes attending the Sunday service, Church school and going out to have lunch afterward with his great-grandmother and aunt. His favorite Bible verse is Psalm 23, one his great-grandmother said he is starting to memorize. It begins "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
"We control the cameras, the speakers and the microphones."
One of his favorite church memories was participating in an Easter egg hunt at St. Matthew, he said. "I used to go on the hunt and collect as many eggs as possible," he said smiling.
By Sandra Long Weaver