The student choir from Union Valley Baptist Church, Beebe, performs at their recent fundraiser. Photo submitted
BEEBE, Ark. – The student ministry of Union Valley Baptist Church in Beebe held a fundraiser on Saturday, May 3, and raised more than $20,000 toward their student choir summer mission trip.
The student choir, Know Mercy, will travel to Pensacola, Florida, in June to worship, serve, and share the Gospel.
Know Mercy, comprised of students in seventh through 12th grade, is dedicated to spreading the Gospel throughout the U.S. The group has embarked on a mission trip each summer for 15 years. A few of the places they’ve traveled to in the past include San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Arlington, Texas. “We’ve really been all over,” Youth Minister Casey Longing said.
While in Pensacola, the group will partner with Olive Baptist Church and a few others, combining choirs and going to several drug and rehab and senior adult facilities to worship. They also will sing Sunday morning and evening at a couple of churches. Additionally, the group will complete projects within the community, such as partnering with the city of Pensacola to help with beach cleanup and assisting one of the local elementary schools with some of its end of year tasks.
“We try to help out where we can. We don’t want to just go and sing. We want to work,” Longing said.
Saturday’s western-themed fundraiser event, The Round Up, featured a dinner served by the students and a silent and live auction. Auction items donated by church members included everything from a guided duck hunt to handmade quilts.
For entertainment, the youth performed several older hymns, such as Blessed Assurance and Power in the Blood. Longing said everyone was singing along. In between songs, the students shared what Know Mercy means to them.
The money raised at Saturday’s fundraiser, around $22,000, will go toward this summer’s mission trip as well as next year’s trip. Longing touted Union Valley’s leadership, volunteers, and everybody else involved for showing up and showing their support for the youth. He said prayer plays a major part in everything they do.
“Nothing happens apart from prayer,” he said.