For many years the USA Central Territory has offered a summer missions program for young adults. Originally named “Summer Service Corps,” this program has been known as “Summer Mission Team” since 2001.
As a leadership development program, Summer Mission Team, or SMT, offers an opportunity for Salvationist young adults to strengthen their personal faith and relationship with Christ, partner for the sake of the Gospel, and love and serve others. This is accomplished through intentional discipleship, team ministry and service experiences.
Over the past 20 years, over 100 different teams have been sent out from our territory, partnering with the Army’s work in many locations around the world and within our own USA Central Territory! During this time, 365 young adults have participated in this program, and today many are applying the lessons they learned while on SMT as they work as teachers, doctors and nurses, Salvation Army employees and officers, social workers, and more!
This summer, SMT will serve exclusively within the US due to the global pandemic. The Social Justice/City Mission Team will learn and serve within the USA Central Territory. In each location, the young adults will learn about key areas of city ministries and will learn to become champions for God’s justice as they work with the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized in our cities.
We are also partnering with the USA Western Territory in a mission team exchange. Three young adults from the USA West will be serving at several locations within our territory. In exchange, two young adults from our territory will be serving in Alaska. We are excited about what these team members will share and learn as they serve in these contexts!
Please join in prayer for the Summer Mission Team program:
- Pray for the host officers and locations
- Pray for the teams – safety while traveling, good health, strength for their tasks and ministry
- Pray for the individual team members – spiritual growth and openness to what God has to teach them this summer, sensitivity to the needs of others
Social Justice/City Mission Team
Cadet Melissa Christiansen, Leader
Reggie Brooks
Samuel Park
Terecita Vasquez
Exchange Team to USA Western Territory
Brianna Kruse, Leader
Grace Washburn
Exchange Team to USA Central Territory
Raven Svenson, Leader
Yesenia Aragon
Natalie Doria
Download this article for use as a Missions Moment here!
Missions Moments are monthly resources meant to be shared with your congregation during Sunday Morning services but feel free to be creative in how you distribute this!
