JACKSON, Mich.—Twenty-six members of St. Mark Lutheran Church are shedding pounds to send teens to a youth conference. A story in The Jackson Citizen Patriot reports the program, "St. Mark's Meltdown," will raise money toward the National Youth Gathering in Orlando, Fla., in July.

For every pound lost an anonymous church member will donate $1 up to $1,000 toward the trip. So far the group has lost 177 pounds since the challenge began earlier this month.

The Rev. Kelly Smith calls the fund-raiser the, "only approved member loss program." He is a member of the weight-loss group himself. "I had lost 40 pounds before Thanksgiving and then I stopped doing sit-ups and 20 pounds found me again. I do about 500 sit-ups a night," said Smith, who weighs 250 pounds.

Church members weigh in Sunday morning, before coffee-hour doughnuts.

"The guys don't mind telling everyone their weight and how much they lost, but the women are very paranoid," said Joan Edwards, Youth and Family Ministries director, and another participant in the event.

Church members set up a screen around the scale to keep the falling numbers hidden. Names of participants and their weight are recorded

by parish nurse, Jayna Sharply. She also distributes a week's worth of daily inspirational devotions to keep members motivated. The church isn't promoting a specific diet, but Smith said he feels like it is a Weight Watchers meeting without charge.

The church averages 150 each week and will send a dozen teens to Orlando. The cause may be motivation enough for Smith and the others.

Smith's son, Kelly Jr., is studying for ministry at Concordia University in Ann Arbor.

"I asked if it was because of me that he wants to be a pastor and he said, no, it was from attending a national Youth Gathering," Smith said. "Kids keep us humble."