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During its five years, Share Our Worlds brought seventy-seven young adult counselors from thirteen countries to spend a summer serving as counselors in twenty-two United Methodist camps in the United States. Fourteen annual conferences in five jurisdictions were represented among the host camps. The counselors had direct contact with more than 27,000 campers, sharing their faith stories, telling about their home countries and cultures, speaking in more than one hundred local United Methodist congregation,s and taking the stories of their experiences back to their home countries. The reasons for discontinuing the Share Our Worlds ministry was attributed to a merging of three forces that had an impact on the program's viability:
In announcing the decision, Ted Witt, Program Coordinator for Share Our Worlds, expressed deep appreciation to all Share Our Worlds partners, including the General Board of Discipleship, the General Board of Global Ministries, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, United Mehtodist camp and retreat centers who hosted counselors, sending partners around the world who recruited excellent leaders, the National Camp and Retreat Committee, and individual donors and supporters. All these people served so faithfully during the program's five-year lifetime — as did people who came to volunteer their summer to serve as camp counselors and to learn about camp and retreat ministries. In a letter prepared for Share Our Worlds partners, Ted Witt wrote: "What mixed feelings are rumbling around inside me as I write this letter! It is with great joy and pride (because of significant accomplishments), but with intense sadness (because it is always difficult to 'let go' of things that are dear to you) that I inform you that the decision has been made to discontinue Share Our Worlds at the end of this (2004) summer. The decision has not been an easy one, but it is felt to be the wisest and most prudent step to take at this time." Kevin Witt, the staff member of the General Board of Discipleship who served as liaison to Share Our Worlds, said that some conversations were underway to explore alternative means by which some of the goals of Share Our Worlds could be achieved using other strategies. When the 2004 Share Our Worlds counselors met at their end-of-summer celebration, they were told of the decision and were reminded that Share Our Worlds will continue to have an impact for years to come as the counselors return to their home countries with new ministry skills and a deepened faith. In addition, the campers who were served by these Christian, Methodist, spiritual leaders now see the world with different eyes and insights. Share Our Worlds is an unqualified success! Its value is not measured purely by whether or not it continues; rather, its success is measured by the blessings that God has produced during its existence and will continue to produce in the lives it has touched. We have sown the seeds; now we trust the promise of God for the harvest. Thanks to you for your support and for helping make this dream come true. Share Our Worlds ends on a high note as an extremely beneficial innovation that served well during its time. The Philippines and Ghana have leaders preparing to launch camp and retreat ministry experiences in their home countries as a result of their involvement in Share Our Worlds. With Gratitude to All, Kevin Witt, Director, Camp and Retreat Ministries, General Board of Discipleship Ted Witt, Program Coordinator, Share Our Worlds Rebecca Ianicelli, Program Assistant, Share Our Worlds
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The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, the Share Ohe General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, the Share Our Worlds sponsor, announced that Share Our Worlds concluded in August 2004, when the 2004 Share Our Worlds counselors gathered for their end-of-summer evaluation and celebration.