Mission Trips: 2010

Three mission trips are scheduled this year, including the ongoing Honduras mission trip (June 25 - July 2), the Appalachian Service Project mission trip (August 1-7), and our Youth’s mission trip to the Hinton Rural Life Center. Local service projects are also planned.

All who take upon themselves the name of Christ are called into ministries of love and service by the example of Christ.  As these members of our community begin their work in other communities, we pray the blessings of God upon their endeavors.

We recognize them as ambassadors of this congregation in ministry with the people of these communities and dedicate them to service in the name of Jesus Christ. Through our prayers we will be united with them in their work. May God richly bless their labors.

We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts. We commit ourselves to the rights and dignity of all persons and to the improvement of the quality of life. We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world and to the rule of justice and law among all nations. We believe in the present and final triumphs of God’s Word in human affairs, and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world.

Honduras Mission Trip

Saint Mark's Honduras Methodist Mission: Plans are shaping up for our Honduras Mission trip this summer from June 25 to July 2. Our focus again will be in the village of El Pino, where we have developed many friendships. If you have ever felt the call of mission work, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. You don’t need experience to join the team, just an open heart and a desire to give of yourself. We will have a medical, education, and construction team on this mission. Our construction team will be building a habitat-style home for a very impoverished family that we know from the village. This work will involve mixing concrete with shovels and pouring buckets full into forms. Being part of a process where a home is built almost to completion in a week is an incredible experience. Seeing a family move from a dirt shack into a new home with a concrete floor is incredibly rewarding. Contact Byron Pittman for more information.

Honduras Mission Miracles: Saint Mark and other churches from the North Georgia North Coast Honduras Methodist Mission, have been working in El Pino, Honduras for the last 5 years, moving impoverished families into new homes. When completed, our "Rent-to Own" program will have placed 17 families with new homes in 2 new communities. A committee composed of civic leaders and Methodist church leaders from El Pino selects each family based on need and ability to pay a small rent. Families considered currently live in very primitive mud and stick style constructed homes. Selected families choose between 2 models of new homes. The monthly rent on the small model is 350L (about $30) and 600L ($55) on the large model. Each home is made of poured concrete and rebar with a metal roof. The small plan is 400 square feet and the large plan is 480 square feet. Covenants covering details such as room additions, number of animals such as chickens and dogs, and the number of people allowed to live on the property are part of the contract. After 10 years the house is deeded to the family who will have paid about 70% of the construction cost. Saint Mark has been chosen to build the last home in El Pino and next year will take this very successful program to La Ceiba or Roatan.

Update June 29, 2010

Follow the work of this year’s Honduras Mission Team from day to day during their trip - visit their blog. This year’s team left for Honduras last Friday, June 25 and will work there through Saturday, July 3. Team members include: Walter Allen, Roger Brown, Brad Burden, Pam Buzbee, Terry Davis, Lisa Duncan, John Hannula, Sandi Lockhart-Keener, Ken Knox, David Mobley, Mary Murray, Harvey Oaxaca, Byron Pittman, and Barry Stearns. Please visit their blog daily and keep the team members and their work in your prayers.

Hinton All Ages in Mission for Youth

Once again this year Saint Mark will commission a team of Saint Mark youth and leaders for a mission trip to the Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, North Carolina.

As a way to save money for our summer youth trip to Hinton, North Carolina, we are asking for volunteers to bring lunch for our weekly youth group (Sundays, 12:30 pm) from April 25 until May 23 (except for May 10). Our numbers can vary from 4-12 people. We need a vegetarian option and a gluten free option. Please contact Beth Brock to volunteer for an upcoming Sunday.

Hinton’s youth program is specifically designed for youth groups seeking a mission experience, similar to the Appalachian Service Project, which includes much hands-on work … supervised by a Hinton staffer.  The program emphasizes education and involvement, equipping the youth with both knowledge and confidence to do construction or repair work they might have thought too difficult.

Update June 29, 2010

Due to circumstances beyond our control, unfortunately the Youth Mission trip, originally scheduled to take place this month, had to be postponed. However, some of our youth were still able to participate in some missions/outreach work locally at the United Methodist Children’s Home and the Midtown Assistance Center. Jake Dotson and Logan Spencer, along with Youth Director Natalie Stadnick, also worked at Saint Mark - they “beautified” the stairs from the parking lot into the breezeway that connects our 2 buildings by scraping and then repainting the railing! Good job, guys (and girl)!

Appalachia Service Project

This year’s Appalachia Service Project (ASP) trip has been scheduled for August 1-7. Some scholarships are available for those who would like to participate but have limited funds. Contact Steve Gutermuth, 678.380.9546, to learn more about the trip and scholarships.

Central Appalachia is rich in natural resources with vast coal deposits, lush timber, majestic mountains and people with a strong work ethic and deep pride in their heritage. Despite all of this, for over 100 years the region has been riddled with poverty. In the counties ASP serves, over 55,000 households have annual incomes of less than $10,000 and poverty rates are over 3 times the national average. In these few counties, there are still over 9,000 homes which lack plumbing. In the last 40 years, ASP has helped over 13,000 families secure a safer, warmer and drier home and in doing so, transformed lives forever.

The Appalachian Service Project provides vital housing services to low income families living in Central Appalachia as well as transformational life experiences to those they serve, volunteers offering their service, congregations involved with ASP, and entire communities.

Update July 27, 2010

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) brings thousands of volunteers from around the country to rural Central Appalachia annually to repair homes for low-income families. ASP’s goal is to make homes "warmer, safer and drier" for needy families. Next week, from August 1 - 7, a team from Saint Mark will travel to Chavies, Kentucky for our annual ASP mission trip. Team members include Yvonne Cormier, Steve Gutermuth, and Mike Kirkland. Please keep our team and their work in your prayers.

For more information about Missions at Saint Mark or if you have suggestions, contact Rev. Phillip Thomason, Minister of Outreach & Pastoral Care, 404.873.2636 x12.