Mission Madness
When I was on staff at The United Presbyterian Church, one of my favorite tasks as Youth and Families Pastor was Mission Trips. It was one of the things I grieved most when I left my role there as A Place of Grace became my fulltime gig. Months after I left, I still could not say the phrase "Mission Trip" without dissolving into tears. As we approached June and the first trip in fourteen years the youth at the church would be headed off without me, I knew I was either going to need to be heavily medicated or heavily distracted during that week. I opted for heavily distracted.
For years I had wanted to do more local mission than I had the opportunity to do, so I decided that would be my focus, and I specifically started the Grace Grams emails in order to advertise the first A Place of Grace Mission Madness Week. I lined up work with several different agencies, and then prayed for people to join me. The first to call was Linda. We joked that her husband, Leroy, who had accompanied me on every single mission trip I had taken was "my mission trip husband." It started when we stopped at the very first gas station on the very first trip, and I took a fountain soda to the clerk who told me my husband had paid for it. My husband wasn't there. But Leroy and I got out of the church van with ten teenagers, so .... I laughed. Leroy laughed when I told him. But that same scene replayed year after year, so it became a joke.
What wasn't a joke was the very real and deep friendship that developed. I depended on Leroy on those trips and had told him I never wanted to learn how to take them without him. When Linda called that spring, she said something that took me completely by surprise: Leroy was in physical therapy and was not up to the physical demands of an out-of-town youth mission trip, so could he work with me locally? Tears ran down my face. I was sad for the teenagers from church. I was ever so grateful that we were going to continue working together.
When Leroy and I and a team of eight more worked with local agencies that year, I told them, I want this to be an ongoing relationship, not a once-a-year sweep-through-and-be-gone kind of thing. I meant it. For the last eight years, we have built and maintained an ongoing relationship with Community Hope Center, Hoyleton Youth & Family Services, Operation Blessing, Riverbend Family Ministries, and Uni-Pres Kindercottage. These relationships are important to us, and we are honored to support them in their work. When we couldn't work with them in-person during COVID, we connected via Zoom and worked from our various homes on handmade items to give to the agencies for Christmas -- more than 3300 gifts in all over two years.
Our team has dwindled. Leroy passed away in April of 2024. We lost another faithful member of our team, Jackie, last month. :( Others have suffered from health issues. Those of us who can continue to do what we can. We are small in numbers, but we are mighty! We don't change the world, but we make a difference each time we gather. One woman said, "A Place of Grace saved my life." She was involved in the Mission Madness team. We would love for you to join us. Come make a difference in our community by supporting the amazing work of these local agencies. Come be part of a team that, while small, is dedicated to reaching out and caring for those Jesus called us to care for most.
Scroll down for photos of our team at work and learn how you can participate. A Place of Grace is dedicated to creating opportunities for churched and unchurched alike to deepen their relationships with God. You are welcome here!
For years I had wanted to do more local mission than I had the opportunity to do, so I decided that would be my focus, and I specifically started the Grace Grams emails in order to advertise the first A Place of Grace Mission Madness Week. I lined up work with several different agencies, and then prayed for people to join me. The first to call was Linda. We joked that her husband, Leroy, who had accompanied me on every single mission trip I had taken was "my mission trip husband." It started when we stopped at the very first gas station on the very first trip, and I took a fountain soda to the clerk who told me my husband had paid for it. My husband wasn't there. But Leroy and I got out of the church van with ten teenagers, so .... I laughed. Leroy laughed when I told him. But that same scene replayed year after year, so it became a joke.
What wasn't a joke was the very real and deep friendship that developed. I depended on Leroy on those trips and had told him I never wanted to learn how to take them without him. When Linda called that spring, she said something that took me completely by surprise: Leroy was in physical therapy and was not up to the physical demands of an out-of-town youth mission trip, so could he work with me locally? Tears ran down my face. I was sad for the teenagers from church. I was ever so grateful that we were going to continue working together.
When Leroy and I and a team of eight more worked with local agencies that year, I told them, I want this to be an ongoing relationship, not a once-a-year sweep-through-and-be-gone kind of thing. I meant it. For the last eight years, we have built and maintained an ongoing relationship with Community Hope Center, Hoyleton Youth & Family Services, Operation Blessing, Riverbend Family Ministries, and Uni-Pres Kindercottage. These relationships are important to us, and we are honored to support them in their work. When we couldn't work with them in-person during COVID, we connected via Zoom and worked from our various homes on handmade items to give to the agencies for Christmas -- more than 3300 gifts in all over two years.
Our team has dwindled. Leroy passed away in April of 2024. We lost another faithful member of our team, Jackie, last month. :( Others have suffered from health issues. Those of us who can continue to do what we can. We are small in numbers, but we are mighty! We don't change the world, but we make a difference each time we gather. One woman said, "A Place of Grace saved my life." She was involved in the Mission Madness team. We would love for you to join us. Come make a difference in our community by supporting the amazing work of these local agencies. Come be part of a team that, while small, is dedicated to reaching out and caring for those Jesus called us to care for most.
Scroll down for photos of our team at work and learn how you can participate. A Place of Grace is dedicated to creating opportunities for churched and unchurched alike to deepen their relationships with God. You are welcome here!
Mission Madness Retreats are great for movers and shakers! Praying with your hands and feet in service to those who are in need transforms the soul. A Place of Grace works in-person with five local agencies once each quarter – usually on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month -- (AND during our annual Grace Camp: Mission Madness week)? We currently work with Community Hope Center (Cottage Hills, IL), Hoyleton Youth & Family Services (Fairview Heights, IL), Operation Blessing (Wood River, IL), Riverbend Family Ministries (Wood River, IL), and Uni-Pres Kindercottage (East St. Louis, IL). I dream of growing our team with more people who want to make a difference in the world … who want to support local agencies, but maybe don’t know how … who want to share their gifts … who want to learn more about poverty and the ways in which God’s people have answered the call to serve. I wonder if you are one of those people. Call Julie at 618-410-5060 to reserve your spot in the next Mission Madness Retreat today!
Mission Madness Workshop Retreats provide a great opportunity for folks who cannot participate in Mission Madness Retreats because the physical labor is too intense or because most agencies are only open during limited weekday hours. Invite your friends to gather in your living room or your organization at a civic center or your congregation in the church fellowship hall, and prepare to have FUN! I'll bring the supplies, and members of your group may learn new skills or show off their super powers by creating gifts for agencies in the Riverbend area to share with clients at Christmas. During COVID, we created more than 3300 gifts for our local agencies as a result of the generosity of the Mission Madness Team and local congregations who joined in the endeavor! Contact Julie to schedule a Mission Madness Workshop Retreat soon!
