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| Mississippi Youth Drowns While on Mission Volunteer Trip | |||||||||||||
New Albany, MS, June 26, 2009--Marshuan Braxton, a 17-year-old from the New Albany United Methodist Church, was drowned on Sunday, June 21, while on a mission volunteer trip to Costa Rica. The accident took place on the western coast of Costa Rica, according to reports in the local newspaper and from the office that coordinates United Methodist Volunteers In Mission work in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. Mr. Braxton was among a group of 14 young people and adults from the New Albany congregation on the weeklong mission trip. One objective was to help build a new sanctuary and gymnasium at the Jesu Christo Es El Señor Methodist Church in the village of Villa Briceño, according to reports quoting the Rev. Jerry Beam, superintendent of the New Albany District of the denomination. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the Mississippi Area of the Church said she was "deeply grieved" by the death of Mr. Braxton, whom she described as "a remarkable young man." A memorial service was scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at the middle school gymnasium in New Albany. Paulette West, director of United Methodist Volunteers In Mission, Southeastern Jurisdiction, said she would attend as a representative of the thousands of volunteers who annually take part in volunteer mission teams. "We want to honor this young man's life and commitment," she said. The Rev. Clinton Rabb, director of the United-Methodist-Volunteer-In-Mission program at the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church in New York, said that fatal accidents rarely happen on mission trips. "We are so saddened by the death of Marshuan Braxton," he said. "The church deeply values the involvement of young people in global mission."
Date posted: Jun 26, 2009 |
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