This report may be used with UMNS coverage of Youth Expo '03, stories #381-385.
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
Twin
sisters Kelly (left) and Megan Jasion from Bridgewater United Methodist
Church in Branchburg, N.J., work on an erosion control project at Ijams
Nature Center in Knoxville, Tenn. More than United Methodist youth
fanned out across the city to perform service projects during Youth '03,
held on the campus of the University of Tennessee. A UMNS photo by Mike
DuBose. Photo number 03-250, Accompanies UMNS #385.
No Long Caption Available for this Story
Travis
Basnett (left) and Bryson Summers from Platt Springs United Methodist
Church in West Columbia, S.C., wipe down bunk beds at the Knoxville
(Tenn.) Area Rescue Ministries shelter. More than 200 United Methodist
youth fanned out across the city to perform service projects during
Youth '03, held on the campus of the University of Tennessee. A UMNS
photo by Mike DuBose. Photo number 03-252, Accompanies UMNS #385.
No Long Caption Available for this Story
Brad
Simmerson of Union Grove, N.C., cuts a drainage channel on a hiking
trail at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, Tenn. More than 200 United
Methodist youth fanned out across the city to perform service projects
during Youth 2003, held on the campus of the University of Tennessee. A
UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo number 03-251, Accompanies UMNS #385.
No Long Caption Available for this Story
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - When 9,000 youth
descended on this college town for four days they left behind some
grateful citizens who benefited from volunteer work performed by
hundreds of the participants over three days.
More than 600 youth
spread out all over town cleaning windows, painting walls, digging
ditches, visiting children and the elderly, and performing a host of
other volunteer jobs.
"The agencies and churches were so happy to
get the volunteers, and the youth were excited to have an opportunity
to serve the community," said Ashley Garren, who coordinated the mission
opportunities across the city.
Garren is a resident of
Knoxville and serves as youth and children's director at St. Mark United
Methodist Church. She is also a design team member for Youth '03, the
international event held July 23-27 by the United Methodist Board of
Discipleship.
"I have a heart for mission, and I am also an
organization freak," she said, reflecting on the extensive amount of
time and effort that went into sending the youth out to more than 30
locations.
Sixteen-year-old Rebecca Unrue spent an entire day
cleaning bunk beds, floors and anything else that needed sprucing up at
the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries.
Unrue, from Platt Springs
United Methodist Church in West Columbia, S.C., said she is inspired to
do mission work by Matthew 25:30. "'Truly I tell you, just as you did it
to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it
to me.'
"I think about that scripture, and I come to places like this, and it makes me extra thankful for all God has given me."
Youth were given a choice to go on mission opportunities while others at the event attended workshops.
At
the Wesley House, they played with the children in the morning and
painted walls in the afternoon. At United Way, they compiled notebooks,
which saved the organization from having to hire people to do the work.
At the Knoxville Zoo, they conducted "zoo chats" and provided
information to the visitors. At the Ijams Nature Center, they cleared a
hiking path and dug irrigation ditches.
"It was great to be able
to show youth that mission work comes in all different forms," Garren
said. "It gives you such a feeling of reward to work for God this way."
# # #
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer.
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