The U.M. Army is coming to the Rayville/Richland Parish area July 10-16.
The U.M. Army’s goal is “to provide Christ-centered, quality youth work camps that serve people in need and promote spiritual growth and leadership development in youth.”
U.M. ARMY began in 1979 when 36 youth and adults from Houston, Texas area churches decided that rather than go to Tennessee for a mission project, they would save the travel money and spend it working on needs near home. Why? The high cost of gas, long lines at gas stations and concerns about whether or not the group could make it there and back caused them to consider building a new ministry right in their own backyard of East Texas.
Now, more than 35 years after its humbling beginning, that first seed of an idea that began in Athens, Texas has grown and produced fruit with almost 5,000 participants working up to 2,000 worksites annually. U.M. Army is now planting seeds across the country with new chapters in southwest Texas, in the northeastern U.S., in north and northwest Texas and new chapters are being planned throughout the U.S.
For 30 years, U.M. Army has continued to help countless individuals and families in communities across the nation with minor home repairs. U.M. Arymy is committed to helping those in need who have neither the physical nor financial means of doing the work themselves. In doing so, they primarily focus their ministry to low income, elderly and disabled individuals.
If you know of a person or a family, especially the elderly or disabled, who need help in their yard or home, you can help by letting the U.M. Army know of them. The UM Army will help do service projects like yard work, painting, cleaning and minor carpentry jobs such as porches, small sheds, hand rails, minor floor repairs and hand rails. Basically, they can handle almost any small job except electrical or plumbing jobs.
There is no charge for the work but the director will choose sites based on need, time and supply restraints.
Rayville UMC will host youth mission teams this summer to work within the Rayville community. If you know of people in need or any other questions contact John Kavanaugh at 728-4853 or johnkavanaugh994@hotmail.com.