ministry - Project Kartina - Youth Missions Trip

Opportunities for Summer '06 Ministry...

Project Katrina Mission

Dundalk Eagle News - CHURCHGOERS LEND A HAND IN NEW ORLEANS CLEANUP

Why not share your God given talents?

The Mission's Board and Youth Committee are co-sponsoring a mission trip, through the EPC, to New Orleans this summer called Project Katrina. We will be leaving July 7th and returning July 15th. The trip is open to any High School student who is entering the 9th grade or higher, college students, young adults, and adults. All those interested need to sign up now. This is going to be an exciting and life changing experience for all who take part, as well as our entire church!

New Orleans this summer called Project Katrina. We will be leaving July 7th and returning July 15th. The trip is open to any High School student who is entering the 9th grade or higher, college students, young adults, and adults. All those interested need to sign up now. This is going to be an exciting and life changing experience for all who take part, as well as our entire church!

Four Reasons for Youth Missions Trips

ONE: FOR THE GLORY OF GOD - It has been said that "Missions exists because worship does not." All of mankind has been created to worship and glorify God. That's the foundation of Jesus' Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)-the glory of God. ." That's why we do missionary work -- to see that the worship of God exists from our neighborhood to the far ends of the world.

TWO: FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIS KINGDOM - In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus tells a parable to His disciples about a mustard seed. A mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers in Jesus' day. What is so fascinating about mustard seeds is that, when they grow up, they stand about ten feet tall-much higher than most other plants in the field or garden. The Kingdom message began with Jesus and just twelve ordinary men and has since spread by the Holy Spirit to millions upon millions from every nation and language. That's the amazing "mustard seed" effect of the Kingdom. Through missions, we are participants in the advancement of God's Kingdom.

THREE: FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE BEING SERVED - The love of God is tangibly expressed through Jesus' Body, which is His Church (1 Cor. 12). There is no more essential characteristic to the Church than love. And because of the very nature of God's agape love, we must put the needs of others before our own. God's love compels us to look out for and take care of others who are less fortunate-whether it's a starving child in Ethiopia or an elderly widow who lives down the street. When the gospel is proclaimed in word and deed and people's needs are met spiritually, emotionally, physically and materially, God rolls up His sleeves and shows Himself loving through His people.

FOUR: FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE STUDENT MISSIONARIES - Romans 8:29 tells us that God's great desire for us is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Mission trips are often an amazing context for that kind of change to happen in students-essentially because they are outside of their comfort zones, thinking of others first and more aware of their need for the transforming power of Christ Jesus. God is often working in students at the same time He is working through them.

This is not a vacation - volunteers are going:

to get dirty and it will be hot and sticky * be house gutting and cleaning * painting

landscaping and building fences * rebuilding homes and making church improvements

In the words of a resident and one trying to help others in their own grief and lost these ideas were expressed: "things are moving slowly here and spirits are low. I'm not really certain everyone understands the magnitude of this and I really think you need to prepare the people. Holding the Marti Gras was a huge mistake because it gave people the impression that the city has recovered. it has not. I don't want to be negative, but you need to be prepared for what you're going to see when you arrive."

Visit the two churches we will be working with:

Faith EPC in Covington and Trinity Christian Community in Downtown New Orleans

Meet our Volunteers

Dr. Wesley Harris
Timothy Harris

Steve Carroll
Bonnie Cook
Dan Hickey
June Miller
Marilyn Warren

Jonathan Burns
Matthew Burns
Caitlin Carroll
Stephanie Cook
Shannon Hickey
Josh Larison
Eddie Mikula
Nick Miller
Heidi Straka

Thanks for your Support

Our team was one of twelve work teams of one-hundred and thirty people.

One team member said, "Out of all the preparations we took to go on this trip, of all of the stories, and from all that we knew from watching the news about New Orleans -- Nothing hit us as hard as being able to see the city in person" The storm damage was "visible for hours before we hit New Orleans"

Another said, "What struck me most then, and now in reflection is the care and compassion that the youth and adults demonstrated in completing this difficult task."; "I am extremely thankful to have gone on this [trip] and for the people who I worked with."

From another we heard, "I would like to tell you how hard the kids worked. I'm still impressed by their commitment... they didn't quit or give up."; "They came to help... they came to work... they came to make a difference.... And they did... I am so proud of all of them."