The youth fellowship group at the First United Methodist Church is going on a mission to Montana this summer, and to help raise money to go, they are having a fund-raiser all about love.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, the youth fellowship will host a Valentine’s Day program. The program includes a dinner, entertainment and a couples portrait. The cost of the all-inclusive ticket is $25, and can be purchased from any FUMC youth fellowship member or by calling the church at (334) 289-1933. A daycare will also be provided, including dinner and a movie for the children at $3 per child.

The youth mission trip will take them to northwestern Montana and the site of the Blackfeet United Methodist Parish.

“We’ve got 20 people going, including youth and adults,” said church administrator Janice Holemon. “They are leaving July 24 and returning July 31. The youth are all junior high and high school age.

“We will be doing a Vacation Bible School with the children, and then doing work either at the church or in the community. The winters up there are so harsh that they have a lot of repairs that need to be done.”

The youth group will work through the Blackfeet United Methodist Parish (BUMP). The parish serves the people who live on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation located just east of Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana.

The majority of the present-day residents living on the Blackfeet Reservation are bloodline descendants of the original indigenous inhabitants of the area. Since 1882, the United Methodist Church has had a continuous presence on the Blackfeet Reservation.

“I’ve been twice,” said Holemon. “It was a great experience! We really got attached to the children while we were out there. They would come, and some of them would spend the day with us.

“Our youth members really enjoyed it, too. In fact, a couple of our girls still stay in contact with the girls their age in Montana.”

“In fact, the youth begged to go back this year,” said FUMC youth director Sarah Byler. “The older youth who went last time in 2006 really wanted to go back before they graduated from high school.”

Other fund-raisers are planned at the church to help fund this cross-country trip. The church has its “Wednesday Night Delights” suppers every Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in its fellowship hall, and one dinner a month will be dedicated to raising money for the trip, including this Wednesday’s meal.

In June, the youth will host a family fun night, and the church is selling Methodist Church decals for a vehicle’s window or windshield.

The First United Methodist Church youth group is working to raise money to help people on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. To prove their sincerity, this Valentine’s Day, they are putting their hearts into it, and yours as well.

For more information about the Blackfeet United Methodist Parish, visit the Web site www.bumpmission.com.

The Demopolis Times Faith page is a venue for our area churches and faith-based organizations to inform our readers about the things that they are doing in the community. If your church or faith-based organization would like to be featured in the Faith page, call David Snow at The Demopolis Times at (334) 289-4017 or send him an e-mail to david.snow@demopolistimes.com.