In June, nineteen youth and six adults from Ann Arbor: First UMC joined an NCJ Youth Mission Journey in Wisconsin and experienced a week filled with moments of stepping outside their comfort zones.
LOGAN HUFF
Children’s and Youth Ministry Assistant, Ann Arbor: First UMC
One of the most beloved events by the youth at Ann Arbor: First UMC is the annual service trip. This tradition has gone on for years, taking our youth to new places across the country and world. And each one has been different.
The best part of these trips is going out in the world to be the hands and feet of God and building community in places we most likely would never have been without the trip.
For the first time, we worked with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM). We were a bit behind in setting up our trip this year, but thanks to grace from the UMVIM team, we were able to jump in for the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) Youth Mission Journey to Milwaukee.
UMVIM is an organization that helps to prepare and plan short-term mission opportunities locally and abroad for various age levels. The annual NCJ Youth Mission Journey is structured explicitly for youth.
This year’s trip, held from June 22-28, 2025, took nearly 80 people, students and adults included, on a journey to serve in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. The incredible part of taking this route for our service trip this year was that there were youth groups from all over the Midwest coming to live and work together for the week. Our group from Michigan was one of several from United Methodist churches in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa.
After connecting with Rev. Dr. Tammy Kuntz, coordinator of UMVIM for the NCJ, to get on board for the trip, we had 19 youth from Ann Arbor: First UMC sign up to go. Even with it being pulled together at the last minute, we were able to have a large majority of our students attend. Six adults volunteered to support our students and ensure their safe arrival.
We were graciously hosted by Brown Deer UMC and Bethany-Calvary UMC, both in the Milwaukee area. Though these churches were our home base, not much time was spent there. It was an action-packed week in the best way possible.
Many organizations couldn’t host a group of our size, so leaders put everyone into smaller work teams and assigned them to a specific project site. This meant we had different experiences on the site and were able to extend the work we were doing to more parts of the community.
The beauty of working with several different organizations meant that students could join teams doing work they enjoyed or that utilized their skills. Throughout the week, groups worked with the following organizations doing sorting, painting, community cleanup, lawn work, weeding, planting, child day camps, creative projects, and everything in between:
-
- Rooted & Rising — Washington Park (formerly United Methodist Children’s Services)
- City on a Hill
- Bethany-Calvary UMC
- Brown Deer UMC
- Solomon Community Temple UMC
- Victory Garden Initiative
During our time working together, our group helped organizations get weeks, if not close to a year, ahead on the projects they needed accomplished. At the end of the week, the site hosts were invited to join us for dinner. Of those who were able to attend, they shared the same sentiment: That the group at their site not only did lots of physical work to support them but also brought a sense of hope and renewed excitement to the community they were working in.
After long days of work, evenings often involved some adventure. Showering offsite was a learning curve, but we eventually got the groove of it. Shower time was followed by dinner, made by a few amazing individuals who offered to cook for the week. Feeding that many hungry teens is no joke!
Ann Arbor: First UMC had the pleasure of facilitating a couple nights of evening activities, supplemented by the chance to hear from someone who is a certified Global Ministries EarthKeeper, as well as enjoy worship services created by one of the other youth groups. Other evenings were spent on activities such as a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament, Popcorn Prayers, and general game time. Plus, we had an evening cookout on the beach. Seeing Lake Michigan from a different coast than what we are used to in Michigan was a fun (and chilly) experience.
Ann Arbor’s trademark of the week became the music they asked for. Our students have a deep connection to the music we sing at youth group, and we led the whole group in singing a few of our favorites.
While the week was incredible, every service trip comes with challenges. Adjusting to sleeping in a new place, getting out of the normal routine, and working during the hottest week of the summer took some getting used to. The experience of meeting new, like-minded people was both exciting and daunting. At the beginning of the week, it was met with some hesitation, confusion, and frustration, as it is for most working with those they do not know. However, by the end of the week, students were swapping social media contacts and phone numbers to stay connected as we left for home. The work, the exploration, the living together, and the worshiping together cultivated a community among all those in attendance.
Stepping out of one’s comfort zone is often where growth occurs, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our week in Milwaukee led to growth for all of us in all these ways. The vulnerability of being in a new place with new people trying new things often leads to an opening of shifting perspectives and a deeper appreciation for the world God created.
To see God’s work in action and to experience the beauty of community that blossoms from hope is a learning opportunity like no other. Our students will carry with them all they learned into their daily lives with more mindfulness of those around them. The week brought many things — mostly good, some challenging — that will remain with them long into the future.
Last Updated on August 7, 2025