Stay tuned to the website (www.gbgm-umc.org/ststephen) for updates to the trip.

The last eight summer tours have placed the youth and adults on a phenomenal spiritual journey. Year one's tour took the group to Florida with stops in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, followed by the next year’s eleven-day journey of faith to New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Year three’s trip traveled west through the panhandle of Texas, to the front range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, into Rocky Mountain National Park, and revisited Albuquerque, New Mexico and Lubbock, Texas.

Tour 2003 began in Joplin, Missouri. Day 2, 3 & 4 Elation traveled to St. Louis, Chicago, and Toledo, experiencing many sights along the way. Day 5 was one of the days enjoyed most visiting Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Performances picked up again on day 6 in Lexington, Kentucky followed by Nashville, Tennessee, Little Rock, Arkansas and finally back home in Mesquite, Texas.

In 2004 Elation’s Patriotic Mission began early on Thursday June 3rd and on day 1 the group traveled through Arkansas, with the first nights stop and performance in Jackson, Tennessee. Day 2 was spent driving with a stop for much needed rest in Roanoke, Virginia while day 3 granted the group a tour of Gettysburg National Park. Saturday evening, June 5, Elation presented Godspell to the congregation of Royersford Baptist Church with a wonderful tour of Philadelphia the following morning. Day 4 concluded with a performance in Olney, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.

Washington DC was next on the journey. June 7 & 8 involved many hours of touring in the DC area, including the Smithsonian, the Pentagon, and all of the monuments. Wednesday, June 9, the group hit the road for Goldsboro, North Carolina visiting Dunwoody, Georgia (Atlanta), Birmingham, Alabama, and Monroe, Louisiana in the following days. The trip wrapped up with a performance of Godspell at St. Stephen UMC.

In 2005 Elation traveled all the way to Key West, Florida with stops in Jackson, Mississippi, Orange Beach, Alabama, Orlando, Florida (including a stop at Islands of Adventure theme park), and then on to the Keys. On our return journey home the group visited Fort Myers Beach and Tallahassee, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas before heading home.

Elation found themselves on their first airplane trip in 2006 as the group flew to the Pacific Northwest. After three days in the greater Seattle area the group traveled south past Mt. St. Helens to Portland, Oregon and then on to the Northern California wine country area for a performance. The bus went as far south as Atascadero, California before turning back north for the group to spend time in Monterrey, San Francisco, and finally Sacramento.

North was the destination in 2007…Minnesota…by way of Oklahoma, Missouri, Wisconsin. On the return trip the group visited Lincoln, Nebraska, Kansas City, Kansas, and Bella Vista, Arkansas.

ELATION is the name given by the youth to the group to reflect the feeling they have when portraying the Gospel. The purpose of the group is to enrich the lives of all those involved and strengthen the spirits of those we touch. The group is currently comprised of 33 youth and 10 adults. All cast members have both singing and speaking roles to help retell the parables from the Gospel of Matthew in "GODSPELL". The musical drama of the life of Christ is understood by the youth to be their means of conveying the message of Jesus Christ. As a result of their sincerity, "GODSPELL" becomes a significant worship event. Please stay tuned to Elation's Web page for pictures from the road. Simply click on the "Tour 2008 Schedule" link. If you are a youth or have young adults in the grades 7 - 12, please come and join us. Please also check out our list of local and tour performances and come out and worship with us. We look forward to seeing you there!

The space for this web site has been provided courtesy of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. The content of these home pages is the responsibility of St. Stephen United Methodist Church. Please send feedback to richardholloway11@yahoo.com. Last update June 8, 2008