CRESTVIEW — Mission Okaloosa is a week-long summer experience where youths from Crosspoint United Methodist Churches in Niceville and Crestview serve local nonprofits and people across Northwest Florida.
"Our vision as a church is to connect people to Christ and we love getting to do this through service," Matt Hasty, mission trip leader, said.
Its outreach began in Okaloosa County originally, but now extends to over 30 nonprofits in areas including Andalusia, Ala., Baker, Milton, Niceville, Fort Walton, Crestview.
The students are sixth- through 12th-graders. More than 250 people are involved across 14 teams and 30 projects all over the Panhandle.
Missions Pastor Tyler Fuller said Mission Okaloosa partners this year are Grace Rides, Ronald McDonald House, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Youth Village, Children’s Advocacy Center, the United Methodist Children’s Home, the City of Crestview, Emerald Coast Autism Center, Soul Care, Choctaw Beach United Methodist Church and the Crestview Manor, among others.
"The group eats, sleeps, and serves together. They are together for an entire week serving our community. Every night our group gathers for worship and talks about their day serving," Fuller said.
The group also does projects for individuals. Some of the work they've performed this week is "yard work and visitation … care packages and yard work for families of deployed service men and women, and (construction of) a wheel chair ramp."
For a map of where the mission members are working, go to https://www.facebook.com/crosspointmission/.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mission Okaloosa youths begin seventh year of summer service