SOWER Work Mission Program
- Before & After
*** What a great 15th anniversary summer! Join us in 2012! ***
ABOUT SOWER...
Sharing Our Witness Enriching Relationships
SOWER Work Mission groups help make building repairs for individuals, families, churches and nonprofit organizations who cannot afford them. These groups participate in five-day or weekend work camps to share their witness as they become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ by giving their time as servants of God. Anyone age 12 or older is welcome to participate in the Program. One adult must accompany every five youth (five girls with one female adult or five boys with one male adult).
SOWER Work Mission teams have the option to choose their own projects. In the past, projects have included scraping, painting, porch rebuilding, roof repairs, and handicap accessible ramps. The SOWER Work Mission Program operates primarily from June 1 through August; however, other arrangements may be made to work at different times during the year. Adult teams are also welcome from September thru April. We are working on developing a program for college student spring break work mission teams. If you would like to schedule a work mission for a weekend or time that is not during the summer, please contact us. We are happy to discussion different possibilities with you.
Although we want our SOWER groups to work as servants of Christ, we also want the experience to be well-balanced. Groups are encouraged to take Wednesday off, and enjoy themselves with the recreation of their choice.
Housing is provided in the Epworth Center's five heated cabins. Each cabin sleeps 8-12, with the exception of renovated #2, which sleeps 16. The cabins have their own restroom facilities, including showers. Each cabin has separate rooms with bunk beds. Participants need to bring their own bedding. Breakfast and dinner are served in the air conditioned lodge. Lunch is provided by a host church near the worksite, or, because of the location, a packed lunch is taken with the group. Meals are provided Monday breakfast thru Friday lunch, with
Wednesday lunch and dinner on your own if you take the Fun Day.
Registration Fees
Camper fees include your housing and meals. We require each SOWER Work Mission group to raise additional funds for materials to help with building repair supplies. This amount depends on the size of your group. The fees support the entire ministry of the Center. Material funds are used on an "as needed" basis, as some projects are more costly than others. Any material fees monies left over at the end of SOWER are used for improvements at the Epworth Center. A $500 nonrefundable deposit registers your group as a SOWER Work Mission team.
Work Camp Fees: $275/ person
Materials: $1500 (group size of up to 15) + $80/each additional person
Nonrefundable deposit to register: $500
Adult Work Camp Fees (September thru April):
$70/person/day
Weekend and Spring Break Possibilities are also available. Please contact us for details or see the flyer under our "Future Groups" page.
In order to become a SOWER Work Mission team, a coordinator from your group should contact us. You may email us at sowermission@epworthcenter.org, call us at 740.484.4705, write us at 301 N. Main St., P.O. Box 538, Bethesda, OH 43719, or choose from the selection to the left.
Notice concerning online forms: If you fill out one of our online forms and do not receive a response from us in a reasonable amount of time, please email us at sowermission@epworthcenter.org. Our online forms are working, but from time-to-time we hit a glitch and they do not go through. Please know that we appreciate each form filled out and do respond in a timely matter. Thank you for understanding!
The Epworth Center invites you to join us for our new initiative through SOWER — a "First-Step" Youth Work Mission Adventure! Open to all youth
groups, ages 12 and up who have never participated in a work mission and can't commit as a group to taking a full trip. Come and join us for a two or three day
work mission experience in the Appalachian hills of Bethesda (one day mission experiences are also available). This will be a wonderful learning, growing and
service opportunity! We want to help equip your youth group to get involved in serving as the hands, feet and smile of Jesus Christ. Your group will in turn reach
out to our neighbors in need. Projects will include painting, porch repair, small construction, yard work and more. We have staff and servants here to help make
your experience a great one. Fees are $50.00/person/day, and material donations are welcomed. There are limited spaces available, so contact us today for more information or to register your group! Any size groups are welcome! See our "future groups" tab to the left for a flyer with more information, or contact us today!