Mission Academy to show youths
how to build strong ties with others

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Missionary training. Dynamic worship. Debriefing time.
These are some of the promises Mission Academy makes to youths who register for the weeklong camp beginning June 21.
But the academy’s most important promise is that it will show young people how to forge strong relationships with those they serve.
“Youth directors are looking every summer for mission opportunities,” said J’Nevelyn Lloyd, who runs youth and education programs at First UMC, McAllen, and is helping organize the academy. “We all want to give our kids the best mission opportunity we can. So much of the time, we just throw something together knowing we’re going to help somebody, and we teach our kids in the midst of it.
“The dream that Mission Academy was built on was that we would provide a mission opportunity with the added before and after training so that youths would understand why we do mission work, that they would see God through mission work and that they would be able to meet people where they are.”
In its first year, the academy is to be in McAllen, with mission projects in San Pablo District churches of the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico, said Susan Hellums, border area mission coordinator and academy organizer.
The mission training is open to youths of all ages (even those in college) but targets senior high students, Hellums said. The ideal size for a mission team is 12 to 15. She said she’d like to have as many teams as possible—which would allow them to do more work.
Those who participate can expect:
> Sound biblical and current theological insights about mission work.
> Team-leader and team-preparation materials.
> A mentor to guide students through their journey.
During the first few days of the session, students are to be trained for mission work. They are to spend four days doing hands-on work—construction projects and Vacation Bible School programs in Mexico—and building relationships with the people they help.
Upon returning to the United States, students are to participate in debriefing to address what they could have done better, what they will do the following day and how they can apply what they’ve learned to their mission work back home.
Every day will include a devotional time and a worship time with Progeny band of San Antonio.
Near the end of the week, Hellums said she planned to share vocational opportunities for students who are called to full-time missions.
Deadline for registering teams is in March. For more information contact Hellums at (956) 661-9771 or shellums@umcswtx.org.