Connections

Military Community Youth Ministry

Submitted by Marlo Dowdy
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American Military Teens Take a Week Out of Their Summer to Serve
MCYM Offers Opportunities for Faith-Based Action

June 21-28, 2009 American military high school youth living in Europe took a week out of their summer to serve with Military Community Youth Ministries/Club Beyond Europe for the third year in Lourdes, France. Serving as the hands and feet for special needs American based pilgrims arriving from the United States, the military youth provided transportation to Mass and prayer events, served meals, cleaned, and provided morning and evening prayer, as well as, music for all liturgical services. The week of service provides an opportunity for the military teens to get “outside the barbwire fence” of their military home in Europe and serve.

One Heidelberg American High School senior commented, “At a time when my life is so focused on me, I was able to spend a week of my summer to serve those who could not serve themselves. I hope I have more opportunities to serve.” Many of the military youth said they would remember the special-needs pilgrims’ exuberant joy and peace, even as the pilgrims struggled to do “normal” things. This memory will provide joy amid the struggle of day-to-day life on a military installation.

Find out more about MCYM/Club Beyond Europe.

As a collaborating partner with NFCYM, Military Community Youth Ministries has over a twenty-eight-year track record of dedicated and faithful service in support of American military teens through its field ministry known as Club Beyond. Military brats know freedom is not free: The silent causalities of combat are the wounded hearts of military families.

MCYM/Club Beyond is currently has more than forty military installations worldwide with nearly sixty thousand military teens. MCYM/Club Beyond brings a relational ministry to military teens and families.