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Texas/Louisiana

U. M. ARMY - TX/LA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with offices in Huntsville, Texas and Tyler, Texas. U. M. ARMY (United in Mission: Action Reach-Out Ministry by Youth) began in 1979 with a youth mission trip to Athens, Texas, where youth groups from several Houston churches gathered to provide home repair assistance to people in need.

Today, our organization has grown to more than 30 separate missions throughout East and Southeast Texas and Louisiana with over 3,500 youth and adult volunteers annually. Our mission is two-fold; serving people in need, and providing young people an opportunity to mature in their faith-walk and life skills through Christian service.

Our mission is accomplished every summer when thousands of youth and adult volunteers sacrifice a week of their vacation to join God’s ARMY. Using a local Methodist church as a base where they gather to have their meals, sleep in classrooms, and worship in the Sanctuary. Participants spend each day of the week providing free home repairs for low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners in the surrounding area.

 

Looking to participate with us?  Not sure when or where to go?  Check here regularly for updates on weeks and locations.

U.M. ARMY TX/LA REGION CHRISTMAS CAMP (December 27, 2023 to January 1, 2024)

Completed 8th-12th Grades ($275 per person)

St. Paul's UMC, Houston, TX

  • Overnight – Wednesday through Monday.
  • Kitchens provide meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks).
  • Programs provide Christmas themed, on-site, worship and other activities.
  • U.M. ARMY t-shirts and giveaways provided.
  • Access to U.M. ARMY registration system and website for mission week planning and support.

 

U.M. ARMY TX/LA REGION SUMMER 2024 MISSION WEEK OFFERINGS

TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL & MIXED AGE ($300 per person)

  • Churches from various locations travel to one centralized community with host church(es).
  • Overnight – Sunday through Saturday.
  • Offer full-service coordination – leadership roles, site coordination, budget, etc.
  • Director creates teams based on safety guidelines and consults with Site Coordinator about project assignments.
  • Kitchens provide meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks).
  • Programs provide on-site worship and other activities.
  • U.M. ARMY t-shirts and giveaways provided.
  • Access to U.M. ARMY registration system and website for mission week planning and support.

 

U.M. ARMY Deposit and Refund Policy

As U.M. ARMY and local churches are all adapting to an uncertain and changing world, the U.M. ARMY Board has enacted a new, uniform Refund Policy in an effort to establish financial expectations that protect both U.M. ARMY and the local church. Please contact your Regional Director if you have any questions. 

We look forward to being in ministry with you!

Fee and Payment Schedule:

Registration Fee Per Person Per Week - $300

Group Registration requires a $25 Application Fee to offset pre-camp administration costs and use of the online system

●     Within 30 days of registration – Group Deposit equaling $75 per person due (non-refundable)

○     If registering on/after March 1, deposit ($75/person) payment is due at time of registration

●  April 1-15—Group Count Covenant Period--Regional Director will confer with Participating Church Coordinator to complete Covenant and confirm participation numbers

●     May 1 - for June camps; June 1 - for July camps - Final payment due

The number of participants in a group may be increased (as availability permits) or decreased, with confirmation from the Regional Director.  Paid individual participants may request to be transferred to a different week within the same mission season.  Any and all requests must be submitted in writing (email, fax, or letter).

In the event of a group cancellation before April 15th, the full Registration Fee, minus the group deposit, can be refunded. After April 15, any individual cancellation that decreases the number committed to in the covenant described above, will result in the entirety of that individual deposit being forfeited without written approval of the Regional Director. T-shirts and other deliverable items will be available as supplies last for groups bringing a number of participants greater than the April 15 group covenant number.

Any cancellation of a group or participant within two (2) weeks of camp will not receive a refund.

For questions about this policy, please email or call the Regional Director, Jack Matthews at [email protected] or 281-479-0103 ext. 4.

Extenuating Circumstances

In the event of a cancellation of mission weeks by U.M. ARMY, a full refund will be provided upon request.

In the event of the necessity of an individual participant cancellation for circumstances, including, but not limited to illness, accident or unforeseen emergency, transfers of funds to the remaining mission week balances may be considered at the discretion of the Regional Director.

In the event of the necessity of a church cancellation for circumstances, including, but not limited to illness, accident or unforeseen emergency, transfers of funds to a future mission week balance may be considered at the discretion of the Regional Director.

Upcoming Mission Opportunities

Location Dates Mission Type
Houston, TX December 26, 2023 - January 1, 2024 Christmas Register
View past missions »

Latest News

Giving Tuesday November 24, 2021 — National

On November 30, 2021, theworld willcelebrate#GivingTuesday, a global giving event encouraging people from around the world to a support a non-profit organization of their choosing, like U.M. ARMY! …

Virtual Valentines 5K February 4, 2021 — National

U.M. ARMY invites you and your family and friends to support U.M. ARMY missions and register for the U.M. ARMY Virtual Valentines 5K. Register to run a virtual 5K or one mile family fun walk the…

Christmas Cheer November 4, 2020 — Texas/Louisiana

Cue the Music!Christmas time's a-comin, Christmas time's a-comin, Christmas time's a-coming and I know I'm going to U.M. ARMY... That's right, our Annual Christmas Camp is right around the corner,…

God @ Work: Creating November 4, 2020 — National

God @ Work: Creating! During the summer of 2020 U.M. ARMY made the decision to REIMAGINE our summer mission models due to the pandemic. We provided two models: we worked with church partners in…

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Youth Advisory Board

U.M. ARMY is blessed to have youth participants from all over the TX/LA Region.  Because of this participation, we want to hear from these youth to find out how we can make U.M. ARMY better!

The goal of the Youth Advisory Board is to provide a youth perspective on the U.M. ARMY programming material presented from year to year in an effort to improve the quality of the product being put forward; to help U.M. ARMY find ways to appeal to a broader spectrum of participants, both now and in the future.

The word “board” is a bit deceiving, there is no group that meets throughout the year and discusses different topics.  The only meeting would happen once, after the camp season, and would be between the youth, their youth worker or parent, and a member of the U.M. ARMY – TX/LA Board of Directors or Staff.

If you know of any youth that might be willing to serve in a Youth Advisory Board role, let us know, or have them fill out this Information Form.

Board of Directors

Name Title Contact
Mark Vennerholm President & NxNW TX Region Representative
Sarah Millerhouse President and National Representative Email
Mark Brown Vice President and National Representative
Jodie Felder Treasurer
Lisa Gill Secretary
Jack Matthews Regional Director-Ex Officio Email
Geoffrey Schroyer National Representative
Anne Eaves
Patrick Foster
Rev Sadie Brink
Colleen Russell
Andrew Sherman
Rev. Ben Burnside
Kat Britton
Cornell Menking
Hank Dugie
Madison Wentworth
Rev Rachel Heyduck
Blair Overman
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