Michigan youth are invited to join other United Methodist youth in Iowa this summer for an immersion experience learning how to alleviate poverty.

JAMES DEATON
Content Editor

This summer, youth entering sixth grade to graduating seniors and their adult chaperones across the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) are traveling to Des Moines, IA, for a Youth Mission Journey sponsored by United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM).

Immanuel UMC in Des Moines will host the Youth Mission Journey from Sunday, June 23, to Saturday, June 29. Click to download the informational flyer.

Michigan churches are invited to send youth for this weeklong immersion experience learning how to alleviate poverty. Youth will participate in volunteer opportunities, fellowship, worship, and more. Space is limited, so email Stefanie Williams, Youth and Young Adult Programs coordinator for UMVIM NCJ, at [email protected] if your church is interested.

On Monday, February 5, Williams will host an informational meeting via Zoom for churches to learn more and ask questions. Two sessions will be offered at 2 pm and 7 pm Eastern/1 pm and 6 pm Central. Please email her at [email protected] to request the Zoom link.

The anticipated cost per person, not including travel to Iowa or optional cultural excursions, is between $150 and $200. The cost covers projects, lodging, insurance, meals from Sunday evening to grab-and-go breakfast on Saturday morning, one T-shirt, and program materials.

Each participant will pay a $50 registration fee, which will be applied toward the total cost. The fee is transferrable within a group, but it is nonrefundable. Priority registration ends March 1, and space is limited. After that date, it will be opened up to those in neighboring conferences.

UMVIM NCJ has decided to plan an annual mission experience for NCJ youth following the powerful stories youth told after participating in the Youth Mission Journeys that occurred before and after last summer’s churchwide Youth 2023 event.

Last July, over 300 youth and leaders across the North Central Jurisdiction logged over 3,000 hours at six project sites en route to Youth 2023 in Daytona Beach, FL. UMVIM NCJ leadership worked across the United Methodist connection to help church youth leaders find mission projects that fit their group size and travel schedule.

This included a group of youth from Adrian: First UMC in Michigan. They stayed at Concord UMC near Knoxville, TN, and learned about gleaning and helped in the church’s community garden. They also volunteered at Emerald Youth Foundation by putting together curriculum kits for the upcoming school year. Emerald Youth Foundation’s mission is to raise up urban youth to love Jesus Christ and become effective leaders who help renew their communities.

This summer’s Youth Mission Journey in Des Moines will be the first following last summer’s experiences. In future years, UMVIM NCJ will choose different places around the jurisdiction, which covers a nine-state region in the upper Midwest. Youth Mission Journeys will immerse participants in different aspects of our United Methodist Social Principles.

Williams invites Michiganders to join her and the UMVIM NCJ team for this summer’s Youth Mission Journey. Said Williams, “Michigan youth leaders and pastors, we would love to see youth from Michigan represented this summer in Des Moines, IA, for the 2024 UMVIM Youth Mission Journey. We know Mission Journeys often lead to life-changing faith formation for all involved, and we want to share this opportunity with as many folks as possible.”

UMVIM is a grassroots movement of United Methodists seeking to put their Christian love into action worldwide. They have various short-term and long-term mission opportunities for youth and adults of all ages. Read this MIconnect article about short-term possibilities for young adults, and learn about an upcoming VIM medical Mission Journey to Peru with Michigan volunteers.