Urban Mission Camp Inquiry Packet 2019

September 20, 2018 Dear Colleague, Government Street Presbyterian Church (GSPC), located in historic downtown Mobile, Alabama, is currently preparing for our 2019 Urban Mission Camp program. For over 25 years, GSPC has welcomed youth and adults throughout the church and provided life-changing experiences during Urban Mission Camps.

At GSPC’s Urban Mission Camp, campers will: • Bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ through service to urban poor.

• Learn about urban issues from those they serve and receive testimonies concerning God’s presence in their lives.

• Reflect on poverty issues in light of Biblical and Reformed understandings of Christian faith.

• Live together and build a Christian community.

• Experience the connecting foundation of the Christian community.

• Grow spiritually through worship and devotion guided by our staff.

Campers will reside at Baytreat, GSPC’s beautiful conference and retreat center, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay (enjoy a virtual tour at http://youtu.be/_giuTmej_sU). Campers arrive Saturday afternoon, worship at GSPC on Sunday, work Monday through Thursday at a variety of mission sites, enjoy Thursday afternoon at the beach, and depart Friday following breakfast. The following dates are available for 2018 Urban Mission Camps: June 1-7 June 8-14 June 15-21 June 22-28*

July 6-12 July 13-19 July 20-26 July 27-August 2

*Week 4 (June 22-28) some participants will help lead Richard Mighell Day Camp, our VBS program hosted at Baytreat for children from the Boys and Girls Club in Mobile, alongside our other opportunities.

Urban Mission Camp is designed for high school and college age students; therefore middle school youth group requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis. One adult advisor (at least age 25) must accompany every seven youth participants. The age limit does not include church employees. Although our maximum capacity is 32 participants per week, we encourage smaller groups (at least three or four youth and one advisor) to participate. We will work to combine several smaller groups for a richer experience. The cost of $330 per participant includes six nights lodging, sixteen meals, and a t-shirt. Please see the Urban Mission Camp brochure to learn about saving $50 per participant. Space will be officially reserved for your group only when the deposit of $150 per camper is received. For more information about Urban Mission Camp or Government Street Presbyterian, visit www.gspcmobile.org.

In Christ, Rev. Paul Phillips Interim Pastor Phone: (251) 432-1749 E-mail: pastorpaul@gspcmobile.org

September 20, 2018 Dear Urban Mission Camp Inquirer, Thank you for your interest in our 2019 Urban Mission Camp experience. Located in downtown Mobile, Government Street Presbyterian Church (GSPC) has ministered to this community for generations. For over twenty five years, this congregation has welcomed youth and adults from all over the country, providing lifechanging experiences through its Urban Mission Camps.

Through GSPC’s Urban Mission Camp, campers will: • Bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ through service to urban poor • Learn about urban issues and the Christian faith from those they serve.

• Reflect on poverty issues in light of Biblical and Reformed understandings of Christian faith.

• Live together and build Christian community • Experience the connectional foundation of the Christian community and the PCUSA • Grow spiritually through group and individual worship and devotion Campers will reside at Baytreat, GSPC’s conference center, which was renovated in 2007, and is located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, thirty minutes from downtown Mobile, Alabama. Campers arrive Saturday afternoon, worship, have orientation, and recreate on Sunday, work Monday through Thursday at a variety of mission sites, enjoy Thursday afternoon at the beach and dinner at a local restaurant, and depart Friday following breakfast and clean-up.

I will be providing on-site leadership for 2018’s Urban Mission Camps, as well as planning and publicizing them throughout the year. During the summer, an Urban Mission Camp assistant and I will support mission teams as they live in community, travel to their work sites, and worship and reflect at the end of each day.

Your initial deposit of $150 per camper is due as soon as possible. Your group’s space is not reserved until we receive a deposit. The total cost per camper is $330 (or the Early Bird price of $280 if full payment is received by March 1), and includes six nights lodging, sixteen meals, and a tee shirt. So far we have several churches that have shown interest. With this in mind, please send in your registration and deposit as soon as possible. Visit our website (http://www.gspcmobile.org/urban-mission-camps) for updated information on availabilities.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to receiving your registration material and deposit check soon!

In Christ, Rev. Paul Phillips Interim Pastor

Phone: (251) 432-1749 E-mail: pastorpaul@gspcmobile.org

Urban Mission Camp Registration and Facility Usage Information Urban Mission Camps are limited to a total of 32 campers (which includes both youth and adults). You may bring less than 32 campers with the understanding that your group may be combined with another group to fill the camp week. Urban Mission Camps are designed for high school and college age students. Typically, campers must be at least rising ninth graders. However, special arrangements may be permitted for middle school campers if petitioned and approved by the GSPC Urban Ministry Committee and the local organizations involved in the program.

Our Urban Mission Camp Director relies on the adult advisors to see that their youth are participating and following the schedule. The advisors will be expected to participate fully and provide leadership and guidance. We ask that advisors be at least 25 years of age (age limit does not apply to church employees), and that an advisor of each gender be present for groups that consist of both genders. We ask that you have one advisor for every seven campers.

The cost per Urban Mission Camp participant is $330. That cost covers six nights of lodging, sixteen meals (Saturday evening through Friday morning, except for dinner out on Thursday evening) and an Urban Mission Camp tee shirt. Groups are responsible for providing their own transportation and gas throughout the week.

Vans are preferred over buses for transportation, as it will be difficult to reach Baytreat and get around Mobile during the week in a bus.

Baytreat has been a special place for GSPC since the 1960s; therefore, we expect our members and guests to join us in being good stewards of the building and property. Baytreat is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drugfree facility. Please be aware that that our facility is located in a residential neighborhood in Point Clear, AL, and we are committed to being good neighbors, which means respecting boundaries and keeping the noise down. A facility deposit of $150 is required of each group to cover any damage incurred while staying at Baytreat. We fully anticipate that this deposit will be returned to you.

Because of the large number of requests we receive and the limited number of available weeks, please note the following deadlines: Deposits $150 per participant

due as soon as possible

Early Bird Pricing $130 balance per participant $200 security deposit per group

due March 1, 2019 due March 1, 2019

Regular Pricing $180 balance per participant $200 security deposit per group

due May 2, 2019 due May 2, 2019

Cancellation Policy A full refund of deposits shall be made if cancellation notice is received IN WRITING by March 1, 2018. No refunds will be made after that date, unless we are able to completely fill that week with another group.

Please make all checks to Government Street Presbyterian Church, and send registration forms and payments to: Government Street Presbyterian Church Attention: Urban Mission Camps 300 Government Street Mobile, AL 36602 info@gspcmobile.org

Urban Mission Camp Reservation Form Government Street Presbyterian Church 300 Government Street Mobile, AL 36602 251-432-1749 (Please type or print clearly)

Church: _______________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ City: _________________________

State: _______

Zip: ____________

E-mail address: ________________________________________________ Contact Name: __________________________ Phone: _______________ Number of Youth: _________

Number of Adults: _________

Please indicate your desired dates in order of preference (1= first choice). Put an X next to weeks that your group CANNOT attend. Please call Dawn Hearn at (251) 434-9323 or check the website (www.gspcmobile.org/urban-mission-camps/) for updated availability.

____Week 1: June 1-7 ____Week 2: June 8-14 ____Week 3: June 15-21 ____Week 4: June 22-28*

____Week 5: July 6-12 ____Week 6: July 11-19 ____Week 7: July 20-26 ____Week 8: July 27-August 2

*Week 4 (June 22-June 28) some participants will, alongside our other service opportunities, help with Richard Mighell Camp, our VBS program hosted at Baytreat for children from the Boys and Girls Club in Mobile.

If full payment is received before March 1, the total Early Bird price per participant is $280. If received after March 1, the cost per participant is $330. The deadline for all final payments, including a $150 per group facility deposit, is May 1, 2018.

Number of participants ______ x $150 = $ ________ Deposit Your group’s space is not reserved until a deposit is received, so deposits should be sent as soon as possible.

OR Number of participants ______ x $280 = $ ________ Total Early Bird Payment The balance (after deposits) on Early Bird registrations may be paid any time before March 1.

Please mail this form back to the attention of Urban Mission Camp at the above address, with your deposit payable to Government Street Presbyterian Church, as soon as possible. Forms may also be emailed to pastorpaul@gspcmobile.org. We look forward to having you as our guests for Urban Mission Camp!