Where did the summer go? Between annual conference, mission trips, family vacations, mobile camps, special projects, volunteer activities and everything in between, summer can feel like it’s gone in a flash! In an effort to keep the spirit of summer alive just a little longer, we’ve collected photos that capture the essence of a United Methodist summer.
Project Transformation
Project Transformation brings together college-aged adults, children from low-income neighborhoods and churches in underserved communities to help meet ongoing needs for each group. College interns lead reading programs for young children in churches that are committed to building relationships with their neighborhoods. The Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation is a community parnter of the Oklahoma chapter of Project Transformation.
Starting New Ministries
Perry-First launched a new ministry in July. First Friday for Foster Families invites foster families in Noble County to shop for free clothing items for foster children. The monthly event is part of For the Worth of a Child, a community-supported project coordinated by Perry-First.
Mission Trip to Tahlequah
A team of 27 members of Ardmore-First took a mission trip to the United Methodist Children’s Home operated by Circle of Care in Tahlequah. Members cleaned, painted and restored a home, tended to the landscape, and worked on other property needs. The trip marked the church’s seventh mission trip to UMCH.
Dayspring - Camp WOW
What’s summer without a summer camp? Dayspring Camp at Camp WOW gave teens a chance to worship, engage in small groups, grow in fellowship and enjoy camp activities. The camp was held in Stuart, Oklahoma for five days in July. Amy Givens, the director of youth ministry at OKC-St. Luke’s, served as dean of the camp.
Disaster Recovery
Several churches and volunteers joined the OKUMC Disaster Response team to finish work on homes that were flooded in 2015. Thanks to the help of groups like Youth Force (bottom left), Stigler UMC (top) and OKC-Chapel Hill (bottom right), fewer than two percent of the original projects remain to be completed.
Camp LEAD
District camp is a staple of a United Methodist summer! Youth leaders entering grades 6-8 were invited to participate in Lead Middle School Camp. Students received leadership training while learning Wesley’s Three Simple Rules: 1) do no harm, 2) do good, and 3) stay in love with God. Leadership training included talking with national experts about the process of disaster recovery and creating presentations to address challenges in various communities.
