The summer of 2009 saw 82 area youth and adult leaders from 5 local churches participate in a service project called "Neighbor-to-Neighbor". They helped some of our mature neighbors in Kerrville, Ingram, and Center Point by providing free labor to meet many of their home maintenance needs. Youth from Kerrville First United Methodist Church, Trinity Baptist Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Notre Dame Catholic Church, and Kerrville Church of Christ did everything from window washing to lawn maintenance, from hauling loads to the dump to painting, and a variety of other cleaning projects too. This has shown to be a great opportunity to serve Christ by serving others. These youth discovered the importance of loving with actions and not just words. They realized the power of God's love as they provided practical assistance to their neighbors! If you would like more information, contact Beth Palmer at First United Methodist Church at (830) 257-0803.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." - John 13:34-35

Jesus called us - his followers - to love one another as he loved us: selflessley, actively, sacrificially. Jesus said that the world would know his disciples by our love - not by our perfectly lived lives, or our deep understanding of doctrine, or even our unfailing devotion to Him. He didn't say those things were bad, he didn't say those things weren't important parts of faith. They're just not how people recognize his followers. No, it's love that sets apart Christ-followers from everyone else.
Love.
But love isn't just a feeling. It's an action. It's demonstrable. It's noticeable. And Jesus modeled in John 13, one of the best ways to demonstrate love - to make love noticeable - is through service.

"And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." - John 13:14-15

My Mission (or Methodist Youth Mission) is a one-week, inner city mission camp sponsored by the SWTC Council on Youth Ministries. Any Jr or Sr. High student who is serious about being in mission and representing Christ to this community can attend. (Camp limited to first 80 persons registered.) Although the name is "MY" Mission, our philosophy is based on Acts 20.24 - “to consider MY life worth nothing to me...” MY Mission is not about us, it’s about loving others for Christ.

Here are some other service opportunities throughout the year:

Ash Wednesday Service Sweetheart Banquet Easter Egg Stuffing & Hiding Easter Sunrise Service Kairos Cookie Baking Relay for Life Vacation Bible School Mission Trips Habitat for Humanity

Church Rummage Sale Set-Up/Take-Down Youth Sundays Trunk or Treat Deliver Thanksgiving Meals Hanging of the Greens Prison Angel Tree Shopping & Wrapping Caroling to Shut-ins Live Nativity Make & Send Cards Throughout the Year