Interested in deepening your faith in community? Gaining experience interpreting Scripture? Working toward healing for yourself, your community, and all of creation? Mission u is for you!
Mission u is a transformational study that is open to all who are interested in learning together for the transformation of the world.
The theme is Practicing Hope, and it will take place via ZOOM on July 11-12, 2025, from 9:30-3:15 each day. Registration is $20.
This year we will explore hope, particularly when hope seems hard to find. The curriculum asks questions such as: What is hope in the face of neofascism? What is hope in a time of genocide? How do we imagine a future for the next generation as our planet grows hotter by the season? What tools do we have to face these hard realities? How does Christ teach us to embody hope when our backs are against the wall?
This study’s purpose is to allow all of our communities to cultivate hope that is honest about our current conditions (refugia), hope that is restorative when everything feels urgent (rest), and hope that is possible even when we transgress (repair).
Our study leader this year is Linda Elms. In addition to being a previous Mission u leader, Linda has served as a Conference President, Spiritual Growth Coordinator, and Program Resource Officer. She was also a two-year member of the Program Advisory Group and served as Vice-President of the South Central Jurisdiction. Linda is a member of St Peter’s UMC in Katy.
This year’s Mission u Dean is Ashley Mayho. Ashley currently serves as the Program Resources coordinator and the Language Coordinator for the Texas Conference UWFaith. She is also the serves as the Social Action coordinator for Literacy for her local unit. Ashley is a member of Klein UMC in Spring.
Mission u 2025 Agenda
Friday, July 11
- 9:30-9:45 am – Gathering Time
- 9:45-10:15 am – Opening Worship
- 10:20-11:20 am – Session 1
- 11:25 am-12:25 pm – Session 2
- 30-minute lunch break
- 12:55-1:55 pm – Session 3
- 2:00-3:00 pm – Session 4
- 3:00-3-15 pm – Closing & Announcements
Saturday, July 12th
- 9:30-9:45 – Gathering Time
- 9:45-9:55 am – Announcements
- 10:00-11:00 am – Session 5
- 11:05 am-12:05 pm – Session 6
- 30-minute lunch break
- 12:35-1:35 pm – Session 7
- 1:40-2:40 pm – Session 8
- 2:45-3:15 pm – Closing Worship
Mission u Resources
The Adult Study Book is not required for to attend the study, but if you would like to purchase a copy for yourself, you can get order your own copy. You can also download invite posters/flyers for free.
Mission u Author
Tabatha Holley is the former pastor of New Day Church in Bronx, New York, a writer in the 2024-2025 Sojourners Opinion Writing Cohort, and founder of A Space to Land, LLC, which provides holistic, interfaith services to individuals and communities ranging from funerals and weddings to workshops, curriculum development, and conflict mediation.
Mission u on Faith Talks Podcast
The UWFaith podcast Faith Talks recently featured the authors of Practicing Hope on one of their episodes. You can listen to the recording on UWFaith Digital or on the UWFaith website.
How do you Mission u?
Mission u will be presented this year via Zoom, but if watching a computer screen by yourself isn’t your cup of tea, consider gathering your friends and watching the presentation together. When the agenda calls for small groups to discuss, your group can be its own breakout room. Each participant is asked to register independently, but there is an option to register as part of a group.
Texas Conference 