With the struggling economy, needs across the country continue to grow, as does the need for volunteers to minister and serve.
As part of WMU’s Volunteer Connection, missions experiences such as FamilyFEST, MissionsFEST and Collide provide volunteers an opportunity to partner with Christians in designated cities to support ongoing missions projects and to use their individual gifts to reach out, help others, and share the love of Christ.
Kristy Carr, a ministry consultant for WMU’s Volunteer Connection, said that many first-time volunteers who simply plug into the three- or five-day pre-planned ministry experiences “beam with excitement and enthusiasm as they see God working and realize that he has not only called every Christian to be involved in missions, but he has equipped them for missions.” They return home eager to learn about needs in their area and do what they can to be on mission wherever God calls them to serve.
While MissionsFEST experiences are open to adults 18 years and older, FamilyFEST is open to anyone in first grade and up, offering a unique opportunity for adults to model a missions lifestyle to their children, their grandchildren, and other young people as they work side by side serving others.
With each MissionsFEST and FamilyFEST, the types of ministry projects vary depending on the needs of the local community. However, common opportunities include prayerwalking, servant evangelism, light construction and repairs, block parties, health fairs, sports camps, and much more.
MissionsFEST in 2009 will be offered in Maine, Oct. 12-17. FamilyFEST sites include Miami, Ariz., June 6-12; Natchez, Miss., July 18-23; and Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., July 19-24.
Collide, a coed missions opportunity for students in grades 7 through 12, will take place in Savannah, Ga., July 25-31.
In addition to opportunities in the United States, WMU’s International Initiatives will offer several mission trips in 2009 to China, Croatia, Jamaica, Jordan and Liberia.
For registration deadlines and more information regarding mission trips offered through WMU, visit www.wmu.com/VolunteerConnection or contact WMU’s Volunteer Connection at (205) 991-4097. – WMU