May Mission Emphasis: Youth Leadership Camp
In two short months the Eurasia/Russia Mission Team will be leaving Texas for Vologda, Russia, and our extended family at Good News UMC under the leadership of Pastor Vera Agapova. Our First Church team will hit the ground running in Vologda with less than two days to put the finishing touches on the Youth Leadership Camp Program. Our programming at this moment will contain Bible studies, prayer stations, challenge courses, some construction, music, games, food, learning to teach Godly Play stories to the young children, conversations about faith and how God and Jesus fit into our daily lives in a world that is constantly changing.
Eurasia/Russia team members include youth and adults who have worked with youth: Shirley Derryberry, parent of former youth and constant volunteer, Tim Deschner, UMYF counselor at First Church; Carol Heath, Godly Play instructor; Judy Kostura, Bible teacher and youth parent; Kisa Kostura Polk, youth; Ben McCulloch, youth; and Beth Seward, Director of Youth at Manchaca UMC. All these youth and youth workers now must deal with a different definition of youth in Russia, with an age range of 14 to 28. They have learned much from our extended family in Vologda through SKYPE, emails, Facebook, and personal conversations and they hope and pray that they will be taking more stories of faith and love to Vologda to help with their journey into deeper understanding of the love of God and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
The Youth Leadership Camp is the major emphasis on this trip, but team members will also visit children in two hospitals and foster families in Goodwill UMC. The camp will cost about $3500. With your gifts through the communion rail offerings this month we will meet and hopefully exceed this goal. They have raised the majority of their needed programming expenses, but must also prepare for fluctuations in the exchange rate.
The Eurasia/Russia team asks that you pray for them and for the people of Good News as they prepare for the trip, and while they are on the other side of the world. Thank you for all that you have done in your continued support of their team and their mission.
January – Christmas Eve Brunch for the Homeless
February – Family Promise (Interfaith Hospitality Network)
March – One Great Hour of Sharing
April – Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT)
May – Youth Leadership Camp
June- New Missionary
July – Pastor’s Fund
August – Native American Ministries Sunday
September – Disaster Relief
October – Feed My People
November – Harvest Sunday
December – Mobile Loaves & Fishes
