The UMARMY 

(The United Methodist Action Reach Out Mission by Youth)

Made up of United Methodist Churches from Pittsburgh, Fairfield, Marquez, Westbury, and Teague

June 18-25, 2006

Page 2 Experiences in Newton

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Link to UM ARMY www.umarmy.org

 

 UM ARMY Page 1 Work Projects UM ARMY 2005
The UMARMY is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is headquartered in Houston. Each summer hundreds of youth and adult mentors go on working mission trips throughout Texas. Recently, the organization is spreading to other states. These mission trips accomplish various tasks to help clients such as building wheel chair ramps, making minor repairs, cleaning up yards and cutting grass, painting, and the like. While these activities are of benefit to clients and communities, the primary goal is the spiritual formation of the youth. The youth work hard for their clients, and the daily worship and prayer is focused on relating their work experiences to their spiritual lives. That is to say, they work as part of the body of Christ in his world and for God's children. In it is an extraordinary organization: Making disciples for Christ for the transformation of the world. 
 

Before telling their story, this is what the group looks like.
 

On Saturday, June 17, Dave Filis, Michael Hunter, Jamie Filis and some of the leadership team arrived to begin preparation. These seven team leaders worshipped with us in Newton, and Jamie and David participated in the worship service. We were truly blessed by Jamie's beautiful voice and David's outstanding guitar playing.
 

 

 

 

 

David Filis presents a plaque from UMARMY to First United Methodist Church. Receiving the plaque is Lee Selman, Chairman of the Church Council, Molindia Henson, Lay Leader, and Joe Miller, Pastor.
 

On Sunday afternoon, the rest of the group arrived. Represented are the following United Methodist Churches: Teague, Marquez, Fairfield, Westbury, and Pittsburgh. Newton is blessed to have these dedicated adults and youth come to worship and work here among us. Following are some candid shots of their arrival.
 

The praise band was the first group to arrive and set-up their equipment. They were fortunate to get the highly acclaimed group known as SoBeIt! I bethca their worship was awesome. 
 

I am not sure what instrument the knight in shining armor plays!
 

Got to have a projector!
 

 

A lovely refrigerator from Fairfield United Methodist Church
 

Watching the action
 

Jamie Filis gets the office ready. She is the brains of this outfit
 

Braedon arrives
 

Looking forward to a great week of worship, work, and fellowship
 

 

SoBeIt practices... the sound was great!
 

We love what we do! These are all high school youth!
 

That evening, the First United Methodist Church and Baptist friends, Betty Simmons and Charlet Myer fed the group in our fellowship hall
 

 

 

 

Desserts supplied by church members and friends
 

Adults wait patiently for their turn
 

 

Fellowship hall was full
 

 

 

 

Wayne Flowers, Senior Pastor from Fairfield United Methodist Church
 

Jamie Filis
 

The elegant accommodations at the First United Methodist Church
 

The UMARMY supplied all of the hard work, but we did feed them well. On Tuesday Night, friends of the church prepared a feast fit for a king (or hard working teenagers)
 

Molindia Henson, Mary Pat Lafitte, Betty Simmons, Gadelle Todd, and Pam Latolais prepare desserts to serve.
 

Titter Hogan gets to handle the dirty dishes
 

Sherry Tracy is always there when there are youth to minister to
 

The head chef for this feast was Pam Latolais. It was her menu, recipes, and expertise.
 

 

On Friday Evening they were treated to the best barbecue in East Texas. Ricky Simmons prepared a feast for them at the Fairgrounds
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is Big James Hiding from?
 

All good things must end someday. Saturday morning brought the last worship service and then... goodbye!
 

 

 

SoBeIt does their rendition of Barbershop 
 

 

 

Goodbye Newton!
 

But enough of the fun and fellowship. How about the work projects?

Go to UM ARMY Page 1