MUMC Mission Trip: Changing Lives

Almost There!  Help us to close our fundraising gap for our mission trip this summer.  To make this possible, we are asking you to join our 48 hour fundraising blitz to make our mission trip possible.  (August 1 at 12:00 Noon to August 3 at 12:00 Noon)

Our mission:  to change lives.

Hi!  I'm Trey Gillette, the director of youth and children's ministries at Marlton United Methodist Church in Marlton, NJ.  I'm leading a group of dedicated young people to change lives through supporting Aldersgate Church Camp in Ravenna, Kentucky. 

This is the last of our fundraising efforts for our 2017 Mission Trip and we are close.  We are thankful for any donation you may be able to share, but we truly covet your prayers for our trip and for the lives that will be touched through church camping programs.  Additionally, if you know others who would be interested in helping with our mission, please share this site with them.

2017 Youth Mission Trip:  August 6 - 12.
The youth of Marlton United Methodist Church will be traveling to Ravenna, Kentucky to the Aldersgate Camp.  Our mission is to do whatever we can to help the camp continue to change lives.  Church camping programs around the country were hit hard with the recession.  Cuts in outside funding and competition for the reduced number of summer campers forced many camps to make difficult budget decisions.  Church groups and local volunteers were called to action to help maintain facilities and expand ministry opportunities.  



Here's what we know:  
Church Camping Changes Lives.  
There is no single program that is more successful in sharing the gospel or demonstrating Christian love in community than church camping programs.  

One of the many young people who was changed through church camp was Dillon.  Dillon lived just a few blocks from the church from a church I previously served and had recently joined our youth group.  On the way back from camp, someone remarked that they were looking forward to sleeping in their own bed that evening.  Dillon said, "Not me.  I thought my bed was great."  I soon learned that Dillon was sleeping in a hallway on two cushions he salvaged from a discarded couch he found on the street.  When I tried to express concern, he told me that this had been the greatest week of his life.  "I was in a small group of people who truly cared about me and more importantly, I know that I am loved by God."  He regularly attended youth group and always wore a smile.  A smile that was shaped and formed at church camp.  

We won't know until we get there exactly what projects we will be doing, but we are prepared for light construction work and repair for lodging and facilities.  God has called us to help serve this camp and for the many campers whose lives will be changed through it.  

Thank you for your prayers and your support.  If you sign-up to receive updates, we will share photos and stories of our work with the Aldersgate Camp.