Mission Trips

"And Jesus said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.'" Mark 16:15

For several years, First United Methodist Church has offered two opportunities for mission service outside of our own community.

Jamaica

Trips to Jamaica's beautiful, but poor, southeastern community of Golden Grove have been ongoing since 2000. Work in this community has included plumbing repairs and much-needed painting at the Isaac Barrant Medical Center; building a room, replacing termite-infested outer walls, installing electricity and ceilings, fixing plumbing, and painting at the pre-school attached to the Moses Baker Baptist Church. As a result of all of this work, the pre-school was able to meet state guidelines for receiving government funding. Mission team members have also had the opportunity to accompany health care workers on trips to homes in the outlying area.

Our current effort is raising money to replace the existing school with a concrete block structure that will be able to better recover from the hurricanes that come through the area. In past years these storms have undone much of the work the mission teams had accomplished. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please contact the church office (607) 432-4102 and we will put you in contact with the team leader.

As important as the work accomplished, are the strong ties that have been forged with our brothers and sisters in Golden Grove. They look forward to each of our trips and the opportunity to renew friendships and to make new friends - as do returning members of our teams! Upon returning from Jamaica, team members often remark that they received much more than they gave during their time there. They also say that they view life very differently after experiencing the faith and joy for living of the Jamaicans even as the Jamaicans struggle to exist on the little they have.

Jamaica mission trips, ten days in length, take place during July or August. Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Binghamton, NY has joined with us for the last two trips, with seven people from each church making up the mission team. The minimum age requirement for teens is 16 years old - with no upward limit. Persons under the age of 16 can participate only if a parent/guardian is also participating.


As mission teams go forth from Oneonta's First United Methodist Church, they go with the blessing of our extremely supportive congregation. Team members serve as representatives of our church, and their opportunities to spread God's word and love through their work, words and actions are limitless. Just as lives are changed through the experience of ten days in Jamaica, we hope, too, that we enrich the lives of those we meet by being ambassadors for Christ.