Texas/Louisiana

U. M. ARMY – Texas Conference is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with offices in Huntsville, Texas and Tyler, Texas. U. M. ARMY (United Methodist Action Reach-Out Mission 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 this 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 SUMMER 2023 MISSION WEEK OFFERINGS

TRADITIONAL ($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, in a distanced/safe manner.
• 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.