Thrive Youth and the Flint Mission

By Pastor Tom Anderson

Thrive Youth are planning to serve at the Flint Mission this June 18-23. This year's theme is Joy. We’ll be sleeping and eating at Calvary United Methodist Church. Youth will be painting and making repairs on 6 houses this year. We’d love to have you join us! Please contact Brian Saunders or Carol Brian for more information on registration. The deadline is at the end of this month.

The Mission is to show the community of Flint that there is hope in Jesus Christ.

The Flint Mission project is overseen by members of Calvary Church, bringing volunteers together for short term mission work in Flint. The poverty rate in Flint is 41% and the unchurched rate is 61%. The need for a practical witness to Jesus Christ couldn’t be greater. Past projects include stripping and re-shingling roofs, painting houses, rebuilding porches, drywall work, landscaping, rebuilding/repairing porch steps & railings, minor plumbing repairs, repairing kitchen cupboards, and removing & replacing windows.

The Flint Mission Project got their start after Jeff Johnson did two mission tours following Hurricane Katrina. He said while on the trip, a fellow volunteer told him he didn’t have to leave home to do a mission trip, it could be as simple as walking out his back door. “That stuck with me,” Johnson said. “So within that week, one night the Lord laid it on my heart to stay here and do this. So, ever since then, I have put all my effort into it.”

Homeowners are chosen in an application process through the church. Applicants have to meet certain requirements to be considered for the project – they have to own the home and make less than $26,000 a year, just to name a few.

Funds for the mission project are raised by the volunteers as well as a small grant from the Methodist District. Each volunteer is asked to raise $200, of which a small portion covers their food and lodging during the mission, the rest goes toward supplies for the project.

A typical day looks like this: We wake up early around 6:30 to our morning devotionals. We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strength to face that day’s challenges and hard work. Following the devotions we share in a hearty breakfast. After breakfast we pack our sack lunches before heading out to our assigned worksites.

It can get quite hot here in Michigan during the summer, so we often take breaks to keep everyone fully charged. One of the breaks is lunch at the worksite. The typical work day ends around 4:00 when we head back to the church to get cleaned up before dinner. Evening devotion with praise and worship is around 7:00 pm leaving plenty of evening rest time for everyone to relax and recharge. We also want to make sure everyone knows that it isn’t all work and no play. There is a small game room to break out some fun with new friends. Every year Wednesday night is set aside for a fun group outing