Mission Experiences
Are you thinking about mission experiences for your youth and young adults? There are countless opportunities to be "the hands and feet of Christ" close by or far away. Here are some United Methodist and United Methodist-affiliated opportunities that range in cost and type of experience:
"We continually remember before God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Bahamas Methodist Habitat
Want to go to the Bahamas but maybe "rough it" a little more? Scott and I had the opportunity to meet with the folks who lead Bahamas Methodist Habitat, and they have a variety of projects available throughout the islands of the Bahamas, and in some remote areas. For information, contact Abe McIntyre at methodisthabitat@gmail.com or check out www.methodisthabitat.org.
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM)
Looking for a full-service mission agency for your youth group or young adult ministry? United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) www.umvim.org is an official agency of the UM Church and is located in Decatur, GA. UMVIM maintains a mission project list of over 400 international projects and hundreds of project in the U.S. and including Georgia. Visit www.umvim.org/Team_Opportunities.htm for more information. Special note - they offer excellent comprehensive travel insurance for all your students and adults, and not just on their own mission trips.
Youthworks
Another partnership will happen between the Division on Ministries with Young People and Youthworks. For information on a unique opportunity in Nashville next summer, go to www.gbod.org/youngpeople/youth/pdfs/youthworks.pdf.
Stellaris
Want to develop your own custom mission or discipleship experience? Stellaris can customize your trip to almost any part of the world. Tracy Heidt, who is also a volunteer with the youth ministry at Sixes UMC, has a passion for travel, young people, mission and discipleship. Check out more information at www.StellarisStudy.com
Metro Atlanta Project (M.A.P.)
Metro Atlanta Project (M.A.P.) is based out of Northside UMC and empowers teens to reach out to low-income senior citizens in Atlanta by addressing their housing needs. From July 10-16, M.A.P. will re-roof 12 -15 houses through the efforts of approximately 250 youth, more than 250 adults, 50 corporate sponsors, several churches and two local service agencies. Check out the information at www.MetroAtlantaProject.org.
River of Life
River of Life has been going on with churches in our conference for a number of years. For further information on how you might be a part of this low cost, high impact mission experience, go to riveroflife-missions.com/
Appalachian Service Project (ASP)
Appalachian Service Project (ASP) is affiliated with the UMC and is one of our North Georgia Youth Service Fund recipients. This project addresses the housing needs of low income families in Central Appalachia. For further information, checkout www.asphome.org.
Hinton Rural Life Center
Hinton Rural Life Center offers a variety of year-round mission experiences for all ages. It is located in the mountains of western North Carolina, just across the Georgia state line. For further information, check out www.hintoncenter.org.
Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project)
Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project) was started by Blakemore UMC in Nashville over 30 years ago. It is dedicated to rural life ministry in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee and offers a variety of opportunities for mission and outreach. For further info, go to www.mountain-top.org.
Carolina Cross Connection
Carolina is a Christian outreach ministry in western North Carolina that was patterned after Mountain T.O.P.
It is an opportunity for youth, college age folks and adults to spend a week of their summer serving families in need through home repair and sharing the love of Christ. Explore www.carolinacrossconnection.org to learn more.
Cross Bridge
Cross Bridge began in 2001 after a group from Carolina Cross Connection realized the same kinds of needs in eastern North Carolina. There is a definite need for home repair from hurricanes along the coast. Hosted in the Wilmington, NC area, you can contact jack@cbonline.org or see www.cbonline.org.
Terrebonne Area Restoration Project (T.A.R.P.)
Less than half of all residents of Terrebonne Parish carried adequate flood insurance to cover the damage done to their homes, and many of them would be unable to make the needed repairs on their own. In effort to provide the needed help, First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge created Terrebonne Area Restoration Project (TARP). TARP was created to provide home repair and restoration at no cost to homeowners.
TARP provides the opportunity for teens to serve as the hands and feet of Christ while growing in their faith through devotionals and worship and meeting friends from across the country who also have a heart for service. Volunteers are asked to commit one week of their summer to our project to make a difference that will last a lifetime. TARP is now accepting registrations for Summer 2010. The project begins the week of June 6 and continues through July 31. For more information, visit www.thebluetarp.com or contact Laurie Byland at 225-383-4777 or laurie.byland@firstmethodist.org. View Registration Flyer.
Some of these opportunities are geared specifically for youth while others are for both youth and young adults. There are lots of other mission opportunities of all kinds out there - if you are new to planning a mission experience for your youth or young adults and still not sure which direction to go in, be sure to contact me at mmorrison@ngumc.org or Scott Parrish at sparrish@trinityonthehill.net.