U.M. Army

Dear Church and Youth Group Leaders:

Greetings in the Spirit of Christ. I am writing today in support of United Methodist Action Reach-Out Mission by Youth (U.M. ARMY). As the Presiding Bishop of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, I have met with U.M. ARMY representatives and support their plans to expand this ministry into Northwest Texas.

I have heard firsthand the impact this program has on youth and adult volunteers and know that thousands of homeowners’ lives are touched by the generosity of these Christian servants. Through this ministry, youth spend a week of their time repairing the homes of low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners, providing youth with an opportunity to serve in Christian love and building relationships with clients while repairing their homes, and enhancing their lives.

·Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world
·Creating new places for new people and revitalizing existing congregations
·Engaging in ministry with the poor
·Combatting the diseases of poverty by improving health globally

The 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted the following “Four Areas of Focus” for the ministry of the church:

U.M. ARMY fulfills two of these four goals, and tangentially a third. U.M. ARMY’s mission statement speaks to “leadership development in youth”. U.M. ARMY has been hosting home repair work camps for more than thirty years and the students who have participated have been called to serve in ministry, both as pastors and missionaries, and in everyday life throughout the world. Their principled leadership is a direct result of their participation and experience with U.M. ARMY.   Participating youth also very intentionally serve and fellowship with homeowners in poverty, providing repairs to homes and hope to those in need. These home repairs also provide a more healthy and safe living environment for homeowners, which could help prevent the onset of sickness or disease.

Simply stated, the U.M. ARMY program works! It bears much fruit. It will serve the interests of churches, youth, adults and homeowners in the Northwest Texas Annual Conference. For that reason, I encourage you to consider learning more about the U.M. ARMY ministry and determine whether it fits with the mission of your church.