The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 3,800 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.
On November 26, 2011, twenty youth made Christmas cards for those in the military. Some were sent to a relative of an individual who attends the church. Others were sent to hometown heroes to be distributed.
Also, we made a crocheted lap quilt for an individual in a nursing home to be used when they are in their wheelchair.
Church: Vienna UMC
Hours in Mission: 3
Donations Received: the materials for the lap quilt where donated by a member of the congregation
We took the roll as servants in our support of the OPEN ARMS PREGNACY CENTER at their current Banquet to increase awareness of the need for the center and to raise funds for its operation. CUMC Youth served as hosts and hostess to around 200 people. The youth served meals and assisted with clean up of tables before the speakers began. Seeing youth take a stand for this cause gave a strong message to those attending the banquet
Church: Cambridge Christ United Methodist Church
Hours in Mission: 20 hours total
Donations Received: All monies earned went to the Open Arms Pregnancy Center. The youth chose not to know the amount as they were doing it for God, and they knew that He knew the total and that was all that mattered.
On October 8, 2011, seven youth spent the day at the local IGA grocery store asking shoppers to purchase at least one item from the store that day for the local food pantry. Three hundred sixty-four items were collected. This project was special because it did not rely on the church congregation for the donations. Also it gave exposure to the local food pantry. Many of the shoppers did not even realize that there was a community food bank. However, not everyone was receptive to purchasing an item for the pantry. We had to step out of our comfort zone to do this project!
Church: Vienna UMC
Hours in Mission: 7
Donations Received: 364
New Concord Youth traveled to Nehemiah Mission in July. We painted a two story plus house for an older lady. We had a fun and very spirit lead week. We also distributed fliers for VBS in the area surrounding the Mission.
Church: New Concord UMC
Hours in Mission: 280 Hours
Donations Received: We did fundraising throughout the year to fund our projct
This summer 34 youth, 8 high school grads, and 18 adult leaders traveled from Cleveland Heights to Wheelersburg, Ohio to share Christ’s love by working on the homes of those who were either physically or financially unable to do the work themselves.
Our theme was based on Romans 12:1 where we were challenged to take our everyday, ordinary lives and place them before God as an offering. If there was ever a great place to try giving your entire daily life to God, a mission trip is it! The youth did a ton of work – 4 wheelchair ramps, 2 small porches, and 2 roofs – in some crazy hot weather. We were blessed by a wonderful host congregation at Wheelersburg UMC who turned their beautiful church over to us for the week, and who even volunteered their pickups to deliver the materials all over Scioto County. The homeowners were each gracious, loving, and eager to share their lives with us – making the work that much more rewarding.
Our various youth leadership teams each shared their talents, especially our Devotions Team who capped off the week with the purest personal testimony from one of our seniors that I’ve ever heard. It was amazing. Each of us, the volunteers and homeowners, experienced God’s love through this service project. The whole thing was just a huge blessing to be a part of. Praise God! Curt Campbell
Church: Church of the Saviour
Hours in Mission: 30 hrs each * 60 mission trippers = 1800 hrs
Donations Received: $9,486.48
As Youth Leader at our church, I took our Youth Group on our second mission trip this summer. We went to Louisville, KY on a trip organized by Youth Works. There, we split into smaller groups and focused on a variety of areas throughout the week.
Some kids went to the Salvation Army where they helped put on a day camp for kids in the community, and also helped prepare a cookout for families in the community. Others went to a food bank and sorted food items for families in the area. Another group went to Catholic Charities where they taught English as a second language to adult refugees from Cuba, Somalia, Iraq and Africa. They also worked with children from these areas during their “school” time. ~Erin Mourton
Church: Rochester/Brighton United Methodist
Hours in Mission: Sunday through Friday all day/night
Donations Received: approx. $3000 with fundraisers and donations
Last December, Preston Goodie, then seventeen years old, came to the pastor and myself and asked to meet with us. I was a little concerned going into the meeting–how many high school students want to meet with their youth director AND pastor?? But my fears were quickly alleviated.
Preston had just discovered an organization called charity:water (http://www.charitywater.org/) which builds wells in third world countries so that villages can have clean water. The availability of clean water can completely change the health and future of a community. Preston was so taken aback by the photos and stories she read on the charity:water website that she knew she had to do something. She said to us, “I want to put on a 5k race….and a walk….and a community breakfast all to raise enough for one well!” New Phila First UMC is a very service-minded church, but this seemed even too big for us! We encouraged her, yet I wondered how much of her dream we could accomplish.
Fast forward eight months. On Saturday, August 13, over two hundred people showed up to run or walk the course. Even more came for the breakfast. Forty different volunteers staffed the course and the building. The event felt professional and the volunteers were kind and hospitable. At the end of the day, Preston had raised over $10,000–enough for two wells! She had enough for one well project just from sponsorship dollars! We had joked about possibly raising enough for two wells, but Preston didn’t dream of it actually happening.
Preston has inspired our church family, especially her fellow students, to a lifetime of service, whether that be big or small. We are incredibly proud of her and look forward to seeing the videos and pictures of the two new wells that are being dug. But we know that Preston’s service has already blessed us as a community and family in Christ.
If you’d like to read more of the story, check out Preston’s blog: http://nprunningwater.wordpress.com/
Church: New Philadelphia First United Methodist Church
Hours in Mission: Countless!
Donations Received: over $10,000
God can be found, even in devastation
It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since the terrorist attack in September of 2001. If you were alive on that day, and were old enough to understand what was happening, you remember exactly where you were when you found out about the attack. If you were a Christian back on that day, or maybe even if you were not, your next reaction was probably to cry out to God for those who were trapped in those buildings.
Watching the video accounts again this past weekend brought back for me all of those emotions I went through that scary day 10 years ago. We really didn’t know what September 12th was going to bring. What was it going to mean for our country and the world. Now, we have experienced a whole new way of life. One that is not so innocent. Where we must always be aware of our surroundings. The economy is still reeling and war is still going on. It’s a scary world.
It was sad to hear about all of the loss that happened that day. According to the website:www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/aug/18/usa.terrorism :there were 1,300 orphans created by 9/11 and 17 babies born after who never met their daddies. There were thousands of parents, spouses, siblings and friends who dealt with the loss of a loved one that day. I just can’t imagine the grief. I enjoyed seeing the interviews of those people who suffered this loss, but have made it through the past 10 years with hope and overcame their fears.
Church attendance rose 20% after 9/11, it’s just too bad it didn’t remain. I think all Americans were searching for hope. Did they find it in church and then leave? Maybe they couldn’t find it in church at all? Will we ever know? Why does it take a tragedy in our lives for us to run to God?
The one statistic we don’t have is how many of those who lost their lives that day were Christians? We know at least 19 of them, the hijackers, did not believe in our God. But how many others?
9/11 helped me put life into perspective. We hear all the time that life is short, and you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. These cliches were never more true than on that day. After reliving September 11, 2001 through the video footage this weekend, I was again reminded that we should be living each day as if it is our last. Doing the most that we can with the time we have been given. I was left with the question, “Who is it in my life that I need to share with the message of Christ? “
Whether you were old enough in 2001 to understand what was happening or not, we all live in this “Post 9/11″ world. A world that is much different. A world that can be scary. We have no guarantees that another attack will happen and that can make us frightened. But, we do have the guarantee in a God who loves us. His love did shine through 10 years ago and is alive and well today. It is a love that is never-ending and follows us beyond the grave.
I found comfort in these words from David found in Psalm 16:
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.
5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!
7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[a]
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[b]
or allow your holy one[c] to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence.
There was an unsettling after 9/11. Something that drove people to church. They had an urgency to be in the presence of God. I pray that you will feel an urgency today. An urgency to share the love of God you have experienced with those non-believers in our world. May they, too find comfort in God in our unsettled world.
That is what the challenge Project 1:8 is all about! I look forward to hearing about all of the work that has been done in the mission field these past few months during our Celebrate 1:8 event. Be sure you are registered!
Keep living and loving for Jesus…let’s share the hope we know with the world!
More than 1,000 pairs of flip flops were passed out last Thursday and Friday at the Bratwurst Festival by teens from Bucyrus United Methodist Church. As they pass out the flip flops, the youth will spread the message of Jesus’ love.
“People of our congregation donated the flip flops and money to help us exceed our goal of 1,000,” said youth leader Sue Stander. “The youth chose to pass out flip flops because they appeal to the under-30 age group.”
This is just one of many projects the youth are doing as part of Project 1:8, a challenge presented in June at the Youth Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church’s East Ohio Conference. The challenge is to fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go make disciples of all the nations” using the power he promised in Acts 1:8: “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and tell people about me everywhere, and to the ends of the earth.”
“Our youth decided our local community was where they needed to begin,” said Stander.
“Each flip flop has a sticker inviting the recipient to come worship with us, plus the scripture Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope. the church’s hours of worship.’ “
The teens also staffed two parking lots during the festival and the church’s food stand. Proceeds go to fund the many missions and events in which the youth take part locally and within the conference.
