We sent a check to Blood:Water Mission for $3944.75 this year due to our experience of [AC] this year. It was a great experience. There was something very freeing for us in the youth group to know that us being missionally minded meant we made some moves and actually DID things and not just talking about them. I found myself planning to teach a lot about what [AC] could/should look like so we all understood what and why we were doing these things, but then I found myself packing boxes of stuff & cards for soldiers for Christmas, and working on other things that got in the way of my teaching. I realized though that this whole thing is about movement and about DOING things that God is doing rather than talking about them. It was actually quite wonderful to have these experiences, and it’s got us questioning a LOT of how we structure and plan things.

Our greatest challenge was shifting the mindset of those involved, that it was a worship experience and not a fundraiser. I don’t know how well that part went, but we encouraged people to focus on the good of giving time, and we’re hoping the seeds take root and grow from there.

Thomas Riffey
1st UMC Edmond
Edmond, OK