GSPC NEWS Called to Serve
August Edition | 2018
300 GOVERNMENT STREET | MOBILE, ALABAMA 36602 251.432.1749 | GSPCMOBILE.ORG 2018 Urban Mission Camp—“Keep Calm and Walk Humbly with God.” The first Sunday of Urban Mission Camp, I told the congregation that I accepted the job of running UMC because I knew that GSPC would ‘show up’. And you did! Thank you to the staff and members of GSPC who showed up in ways I hoped for, and in ways I could never expect. Whether hosting Sunday night meals, or visits from an ice cream fairy, and donations of Moon pies and beads to share a little bit of Mardi Gras with the campers, or helping a group get their church van fixed to get back on the road, y’all ‘showed up’. This summer, we had five churches attend from as far as Mattoon, Illinois and as close as Birmingham. All in all, 40 youth and 15 adults attended UMC for a total of 55 participants. This summers theme was a play on the British slogan from WWII: “Keep Calm and Carry On”; and Micah 6:8, “What does the LORD require but that you do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” We began and ended each day with 60 seconds of silence, listening to how we feel, and what we are bringing with us to serve. We used People First Language to practice speaking in ways that focused on the person, and not someone's diagnosis, situation or label. We practiced noticing the people we met and where God was at work in our days. We practiced giving thanks for one moment each day. These practices helped me realize that we did not bring God to the places we served, God was already there inviting us to join in. God was at L'Arche, sitting with Willie, Lucy, and Jaime, ready to play bingo with us in the Activity Center. God was already present at Dumas Wesley in the senior center sitting around a game of Dominos. God was at the Mobile Rescue Mission sitting with the men in the recovery program who visited with us at lunch and shared their stories of loss, heartbreak and grace. God was at Catholic Social services in the dedicated staff and in the group for senior adults with intellectual disabilities. God was at Feeding the Gulf Coast as we sorted thousands of pounds of food and joined in the community wide efforts to feed those who experience hunger across the Gulf Coast. God was at Langan Municipal Park, amused at our reactions of disgust and wonder as we collected invasive apple snails and their bubblegum pink eggs. As I return to Atlanta to begin chaplaincy, I give thanks for my summer in Mobile. May you continue to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with the LORD your God. -Steve Sankey Director of Urban Mission Camps