Wichita, Kansas - Andy Churray, the Wichita area director of Vagabond Missions, is on a mission to reach inner-city youth and provide them with effective Catholic youth ministry. Vagabond Missions, an organization with 13 mission sites in nine cities across eight states, focuses on areas where family life may be less stable and parishes have fewer resources and opportunities.

Churray, originally from the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, was inspired to join Vagabond Missions after witnessing the transformative power of Catholic youth ministry and seeing the need for outreach in less fortunate areas. He and his wife, Megan Rott, who graduated from Kapaun Mt. Carmel, started their missionary journey in Brooklyn, New York, before eventually settling in Wichita.

"We felt like the Lord could use us here — that we might be being called to start a Vagabond Mission here to help reach teens who aren’t in the Catholic schools, who aren’t being engaged, aren’t being reached by the church in the more traditional methods," Churray said.

In 2015, Bishop Carl A. Kemme gave his approval for Vagabond Missions to establish a base in Wichita. The ministry initially considered focusing on the Holy Savior Parish neighborhood but ultimately decided to concentrate on the youth around North High School, south of St. Patrick Parish. The Wichita school district has granted approval for Vagabond to visit with students at North High and invite them to participate in activities at the youth center.

Sarah Lynch, one of the missionaries serving in Wichita, plays a crucial role in inviting youth to Vagabond's programs. She organizes the Open Underground, a twice-a-week evening of video games, foosball, billiards, and other activities designed to provide a space for youth to decompress. Lynch and her fellow missionaries also offer rides home to those who need it.

"And then we always have a short talk at the end, maybe a five- to seven-minute talk. We want to give them some wholesome content to go home with that’s faith-related," Lynch explained.

Chase Dorsett, another missionary with Vagabond in Wichita, shared his perspective on the importance of their work. "We’re required to go out into the world and preach the good news, to tell everyone about Christ, that he is here for us, and that he loves us," he said. Dorsett emphasized that for many of the individuals Vagabond serves, it's the first time they've heard the Gospel.

As Vagabond missionaries continue to dedicate themselves to their mission, they are making a significant impact on the lives of the youth they encounter. Sarah Lynch expressed her gratitude for the experience, saying, "I really like being a missionary. It’s challenged me in a lot of ways. I’ve been a missionary since August of 2021, and I’m not the same person that I was before starting in mission."

The work of Vagabond Missions in Wichita is a testament to the power of reaching out to underserved communities and providing them with a sense of belonging and faith. Through their dedication, these missionaries are making a difference and spreading the message of love and hope to the youth who need it most.