Each summer, MPC hosts an at-home mission camp for our middle school students.  This tradition started in 2019 with the belief that it is important for young people to learn about the various needs that exist in our own community.   Through mission camp, we explore how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to help meet these needs.

This year, our mission camp participants learned how people can get stuck in a cycle of poverty due to the high cost of living in our community.  Our middle schoolers received studies representing families with different food budgets.  Based on those models, they had to do meal planning and grocery shopping.  We donated all of the food we purchased  to the St. Johns Ecumenical Food Pantry.

Mission camp was a full week!  Our group was blessed to have the following experiences:

Work with church members, Sarah and Jon Hunt, with Meals on Wheels

Go on a tour of the Council on Aging to learn about the unique needs of our aging population  

Purchase and sort items for hygiene bags for unaccompanied minors and youth experiencing homelessness in St. Johns County

Spend two mornings at Crookshank Elementary School helping with Reading Buddies to learn how reading competency is directly linked to quality of living later in life and incarceration rates

The focus of our week was Micah 6:8, “You have heard, O mortal what is good, and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

After a week filled with service and learning, we spent a day at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA, where we rode roller coasters and went down water slides!  God blessed us with a meaningful time of service and fellowship.