Support a Young Person in Missions and Help Change a Life!

Young people today face a multitude of challenges that our generation and our parents could not have imagined. For those of us 50 and older, we grew up in a simpler time with fewer influences that could lead to problems and trouble. Today's generation of young people in their teens and early 20's need as many good influences as we can provide. Their future is our responsibility. Community service, missions and outreach provide these influences and instill lessons that can mold a person's character, faith and ideals for a lifetime.

The Rural Mission has been blessed since 1969 with thousands of young people of high school and college age that have committed to a mission trip to South Carolina's Sea Islands in lower Charleston County. They have returned home as different people. More often than not, they have come back again. Some are still coming back as adult leaders for their own children's mission experience.

2008 is shaping up as another special year. Many young people will be fortunate enough to be able to experience missions, caring, leadership building, fellowship and fun with friends. Taking a quick look at our Housing Missions Workcamp calendar for 2008, we find youth groups coming from Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Indiana. Many other states will be represented before the year concludes. This is a tremendous blessing to these young people, to the adults who accompany the trip and to the families that they help and encourage here in our area.

Unfortunately not all young people have this opportunity. Not all churches are financially able to support mission opportunities. When this happens, everyone looses- but none more than the young life that could have been strengthened and given purpose and direction. A week is a short period of time. But a week spent in an intensive and dedicated mission program of work and caring can have a far greater impact than any other week in these young lives.

What Can You Do? The Rural Mission is looking for sponsors who are willing to help support a young person or a smaller church in missions and community outreach participation. This gift is tax deductible. This gift will make a tremendous difference in a young person's life! This young person will work very hard for a week. They will get dirty and tired but they will also learn and grow. They will come away feeling great about one of the most memorable and meaningful week's of their young lives. And they will want to come back.

The cost ... $250 will provide for all costs including transportation, meals, lodging and materials for a week at the Rural Mission and a week's contribution to building a home for a needy family. Please contact the Rural Mission at 768-1720 or email . Donations can be made payable to the Rural Mission, PO Box 235, Johns Island, SC, 29457. Please indicate that the donation is for youth mission sponsorship.

The return ... immeasurable!