Camilla UMC

M25 is a mission camp in Atlanta that the youth of Camilla UMC have been attending for several years now. This camp gives students the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with people who are homeless and strangers to them. The name of this camp comes from Matthew 25:35-45: 

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least or these, you did not do for me.’

Gabe Barrett is the director of M25 Mission Camp who worked in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles and spent time serving on Skid Row. A few years ago, Gabe decided to live on the streets with the homeless for a week to gain an understanding of what homeless people experience. During his time on the streets, he encountered many people who did not treat him like he was a person. Gabe and the ministry of M25 teach students how to serve others and treat them like they are humans, like their lives matter. Because they do. According to Jesus, their lives are just as important as His.

When we go to M25 camp we are stretched in our faith and in our understanding of the world. We meet people with stories that deserve to be heard. We share meals and scriptures, and show people that they are worthy of love. This year we distributed lunches and prayed for people in the Bluff, which is a part of Atlanta known for having high crime rates and drug trafficking. We went to a couple shelters for women and children and spent time playing with and loving children while their mothers were able to have bible study. Then we went to volunteer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank where we were able to help pack 10,225 pounds of food that will help feed 7,056 people.

Our prayer is that our week at M25 helped to bring hope to the hopeless and will help inspire us to continue to walk as Jesus did as we seek out the least of these in our own community.