Youths in action

Jefferson City News Tribune

Much has been said of late about child obesity. Kids are too sedentary. They eat too much junk food while sitting for hours in front of a TV or at a computer. Those are valid concerns and must be addressed.

But, before painting all children with the same broad brush, let's look at another aspect. Thousands of area youngsters are participating in camps this summer. Many of those camps are recreational. And some combine activity with good works.

Youth groups from a number of area churches are on missions this summer, lending a helping hand and also helping to spread the Gospel.

And, conversely, youth missions from around the state are coming to central Missouri to provide similar services here.

For example, 150 youngsters from the United Methodist Church system were in Jefferson City this month.

At night, they bunked in sleeping bags and on air mattresses in the basement at First United Methodist Church. During the day, they participated in a building project at the Salvation Army and assisted teachers at the Special Learning Center. Their five-week mission takes them to a different community each week.

Mission work camps, as the name implies, have triple value.

They allow young people to be active, to celebrate spirituality and to make a difference in the lives of others.