Missions

Over the last year, First UMC has directly supported 8 separate mission organizations. These are some of the stories.

 

Dylan Henson

Over the summer I did four Ozark Mission Project camps in Paris, AR, Camden, AR, Texarkana, AR, and West Memphis, AR. My purpose was to organize and plan out mission work for middle schoolers and high schoolers. This ranged from building wheelchair ramps to tearing down an old shed. I, along with two other college students, was also responsible for organizing worship.

Throughout the summer, I saw God in many ways. One camp sticks out in particular though. For the final camp of the summer I was in West Memphis. When the staff and I arrived to camp on the Wednesday before campers arrived, we had a third of the jobs that we needed to keep campers busy for the week. We searched for more jobs but could only find half of what we needed. However, on Saturday (the day before campers arrive) the Lord came through and provided enough work for the week.

As a camper at OMP, I never knew what all went on behind the scenes. I never thought about all the things that have to happen in order for a camp to be successful. Our theme for the summer was Sustain and used Scripture from Isaiah 46:3-4. It talks about how God has, does, and always will sustain us. I saw this firsthand throughout the summer. Especially my final week of camp in West Memphis as I was tired and burnt out from working all summer. However, the Lord gave me energy and strength and the work to make it the best camp of the summer. I walked away from this summer with much more faith in the Lord than I have ever had before and want to thank the church for supporting me and allowing me to have the opportunity to serve the Lord through serving others.

Beth Huggins

“The medical mission trip I attended this last summer was to San Diego, Honduras-a rural town south east of the capitol. I went with Global Medical Brigades, the largest student run non-profit organization. Global Brigades currently treats the countries of Honduras, Panama, and Ghana.

Traveling on a medical mission trip to Honduras is one opportunity that I will never forget. For as long as I can remember I have felt God telling me to become a doctor, after my trip I finally realized what area of medicine I hope to spend many years of my life doing. I loved every part of being in a different culture and being able to help those less fortunate than myself. I will never forget the kindness and gratefulness the patients showed us, God was definitely working in our lives just as much as in theirs. I can remember a particularly instance of a patient wanting to tell me something, but unfortunately my Spanish is a little less than beginners so I had to grab the translator. When the patient told the translator, she smiled then looked at me and said, “She said, ‘I used to think angels only existed in heaven, but I am sure that all these people are God-sent angels.” I know we were not angels, but we were definitely God-sent. I am so thankful for my home church family and for my supporters that helped make it possible, the trip definitely changed my life and I look forward to the experiences I obtain from my upcoming Ghana trip.

Currently, I am trying to raise support/funds for my next medical mission trip to Ghana, Africa this January. It will also be with Global Medical Brigades. In addition, I will take on the role of president for the organization at my school and will lead the next group of students to Honduras again next summer.”

Click here to see photos from Beth’s trip.

Conner Bedor

Conner traveled with the ACCYM youth choir on their summer tour around Southern Arkansas. “The theme of the choir tour was Identity and our theme was “its not who you are, its whose you are” the purpose was to bring an upbeat worship experience to the audience. We sang barefoot, because we were on “holy ground.”

Roger Youmans

Copies of Dr. Roger L. Youmans’ book “When Bull Elephants Fight: An American Surgeon’s Chronicle of Congo” are available in the church office. These books retail for $15. Donations are encouraged and will further the cause of missions through the church, but are not required. Dr. Youmans’ desire is that the reader would see God’s heart for people through this book. Beware: God’s heart is often contagious!

Joshua Rowlan

Joshua traveled to Hong Kong and Mongolia over the summer to teach English at the English Language Institute. “What touched me the most was the God given unity. Without this common bond we could not have worked as well as we did. I was also so impressed at how I felt God’s continual presence throughout the trip.”