Due to the pandemic, our trips will not run as previously scheduled.
Dear FPC youth and families,
For the past two months I’ve received text messages, emails, and phone calls (almost daily) asking about West Virginia, The Great Escape, and/or the Mystery Trip. At first, I thought it was crazy that people were concerned about trips that were three months out. As this pandemic has unfolded in our nation, my response has changed from “we’re still going” to “let’s wait and see.” In my wildest dreams, I never imagined we’d be where we are today. In an effort to align ourselves with the four-phased reopening plan outlined by Mayor Cooper, the leadership of our congregation has made a decision about all church programming for the month of June.
The West Virginia Mission Experience, the Great Escape, and the Graduated Senior Mystery Mission Trip will not take place this summer.
I can’t tell you how sad I am about this. The youth staff and volunteers have been looking forward to these trips and retreats all year. Our middle schoolers should be going to The Great Escape, our high schoolers should be going to West Virginia, and our graduated seniors should be going on the Mystery Trip. Our church leadership and youth staff are sad about this reality. Some of your kids may be just as sad as we are—if not more so. There’s nothing we can say to take away the disappointment and sadness they may be feeling around this news. Please know that you are not alone if you are grieving. We are right there with you.
Some of you have already paid in full for these trips. The Youth Missions Committee would like to offer full refunds– including the “non-refundable” deposits. Please reply to this email to let us know how you would like us to proceed. We can refund your payment, or you can donate your June trip payments to the youth mission fund. Many of our mission partners depend on groups like us to stay in business. We’ll use your donations to offer much needed financial support to those mission partners.
We don’t know what our summer youth ministry plan will be, but the youth staff is hard at work and committed to creating future opportunities for your kids to join in Christ’s mission in the world, to grow in Christian discipleship, and to practice servant leadership. If you have any ideas, questions, or just need someone to vent to, the youth staff is available. You’ve got us if you need us. My number is below. Feel free to shoot me a text or give me a call. As soon as we have finalized the plan for our youth ministry this summer, we will let you know. Until that time, keep us in your prayers, and share the burden of this disappointment with God and with one another.
God’s still up to something; . . . you’re still a part of it.
paz
Adam DeVries
Associate Pastor to Youth & Their Families
