Mennonite Central Committee

Facts about SOOP

• SOOP Philosophy of Christian service: SOOP service is performed in the name of Christ, arising in response to human need and the call to Christian discipleship. The program uses mature personnel with a wide variety of skills and levels of education. It is hoped that both personnel and program can serve as channels for healing and reconciliation in a broken and divided world.

• Service Opportunities for Older People (SOOP) provides short-term service opportunities for older adults and for inter-generational church groups. This program is designed to bring the wisdom, experience and mature skills of older adults to situations of need all across North America. The experiences of the participants will also provide a window through which the church can see more clearly the breadth and depth of the need for ministry in the United States and Canada.

• There are more than 60 locations in North America where older adults can undertake service assignments in the SOOP program. Other locations are being added as people inquire about possible assignments when they anticipate travel with a service component. In most cases, participants are able to choose the time of the year and the length of assignment which they prefer.

• SOOP is jointly sponsored and administered by Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) , Mennonite Association of Retired Persons (MARP), and Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCCC). The MMN/MARP/MCCC administrators work closely with on-site coordinators at each service location to provide appropriate and meaningful service experiences for SOOP participants.