Share Our Worlds — Help Needed Share Our Worlds brings United Methodist- and Methodist-related young adults from around the world to serve as summer staff in United Methodist camp/retreat centers across the United States. The reviews/evaluations from the first two summers highlight the positive impact of the friendships that developed among participants and guests from diverse cultures and homelands. The inroads to better understanding and appreciation last far beyond the summer. The people recruited from other nations are committed persons of Christian faith who not only lead activities, but also provide spiritual leadership as a role model of the faith — an element unique to Share Our Worlds. The international staff speak English as well as their native languages and have skills that enable them to contribute significantly to the camp/retreat center team. These leaders take what they have learned back to their homelands to incorporate camp/retreat ministry in ways that make sense in their setting. In sum, it's been an extremely valuable experience for all involved. The General Board of Discipleship, General Board of Global Ministries, and National Camp/Retreat Committee have given generously to help launch Share Our Worlds. The ministry now needs to develop support from other sources to move toward financial self-sufficiency. Share Our Worlds strives to keep costs to the counselors from outside the U.S. to a minimum, since they are coming to serve us and are our guests. Currently, the counselors are responsible for expenses related to travel visas and transportation to the airport. This translates into a large sum of money for many participants who come from economically poorer nations. Due to the cost of international travel, special orientation sessions, transportation from Chicago to the camp/retreat site, special insurance, and so on, expenses for the host site in the U.S. are typically greater than they would be for hiring a local young adult. Host sites are asked to contribute $2,200 to Share Our Worlds, the cost of transportation from the airport to the campsite, and a $300 love gift. Here's the problem. Some of the roundtrip airfares were as high as $1686 from some countries. Since Share Our Worlds receives only $1700 from a host site, many expenses, such as orientation, the Share Our Worlds Director funding, expenses related to State Department requirements, and so on are not fully funded. As the start-up subsidies are reduced, we want to avoid putting the full financial load on the host sites; we don't want to discourage them from hosting international counselors because of the added expenses. The benefits of the program are so powerful, we need to find a way to balance the finances. Those of you reading this article or people or groups you know may find great meaning in contributing and helping to undergird this powerful exchange program that enhances our Camp/Retreat Ministries so much across the U.S. Please see the "Share Our Worlds Giving Partners" Form and prayerfully consider this opportunity as part of your annual giving. Thank you so much! For further information about your camp/retreat center hosting international staff or about making contributions, contact Ted Witt, Coordinator, Share Our Worlds, 2484 Highland Lane, Crossville, TN 38555-1468; phone: 931-707-7592; fax: 931-707-7904; e-mail: tedwitt@u-c.net. If you, or an individual or group you know, would like to become a Share Our Worlds Giving Partner, please print out and complete the "Share Our Worlds Giving Partners" Form. Mail it with your check made payable to the General Board of Discipleship to the address on the form. If you are unable to make a financial contribution, please lift the ministry in your prayers. Thanks so much for supporting a cutting-edge addition to United Methodist Camp/Retreat Ministry. With your help, so many lives will be enriched in God's name. | Page 1 of Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry | | Page 2 of Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry | | Share Our Worlds — Help Needed | | Share Our Worlds — Giving Partners Form | | The Role of Creation in Faith Formation: Avoiding the Pantheism Controversy | | Camp/Retreat Ministry Certification | | Resource Review | | Mark Your Calendars | | D. Min. Group Forming in Camp/Retreat Ministry | | Camp/Retreat Memo Archives | | Camp and Retreat Ministries Home | Articles | Links | Staff | | Comments | Directory | Events | Employment Opportunities |