FaithX 2024
Join FaithX during Summer 2024 to serve, grow in faith, make friends, and experience something new!
FaithX experiences are short-term service trips that challenge us to be more aware of ourselves, our communities, and our world so that we may learn to participate in God’s vision of justice for all people. Participants will serve in a variety of ministry and non-profit settings, live and worship in community, make friendships, and explore a new place.
See below for trip opportunities for junior high, senior high, adults, and families.
Registration for FaithX Summer 2024 opens on January 10, 2024 at 7:00pm (eastern time), and closes on April 1, 2024.
Registration
FaithX 2024 Schedule
Picture key to ID different types of work
Please use this key as a rough guide to what kind of work will be available each workcamp. Keep in mind that work projects at any site are subject to change.
 emphasis on relational service |  gardening and eco-service |  construction, painting, etc. |  food bank, soup kitchen |  thrift store, packaging clothes |  card making, cookie baking, creative service |
Jr. High
Roanoke, Virginia
June 19-23 (20 participants)
The Rescue Mission of Roanoke provides hot meals, shelter, a food pantry, clothing, and health services to thousands of individuals and families each year. As volunteers with the Rescue Mission, we will share the compassion, love, and warmth that is critical to the cause of serving those who are hurting. In our free time, we will explore Roanoke and attend a Salem Red Sox baseball game. On Sunday, we will participate in worship with Roanoke First Church of the Brethren.
Palmyra, Pennsylvania
July 17-21 (20 participants)
Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association creates riding experiences for individuals of all ages who experience disabilities. We will assist with the care of the farm’s animals, maintain stalls and paddocks, clean water troughs, re-stock hay stations, visit with the goats, brush the donkeys, and more! In the evenings we may visit Hershey’s Chocolate World, have a pool party, or relax by a campfire. On Sunday, we will participate in worship with Palmyra Church of the Brethren.
Jr. & Sr. High
Denton, Maryland – Camp Mardela
June 9-14 (25 participants)
Support the ministry of the outdoors by volunteering at Camp Mardela on the Eastern Shore of Maryland! At this beautiful sandy camp, we will help to complete building projects and clean up the grounds in preparation for summer camp. In the evenings, we will fellowship together doing classic camp activities like games, campfires, canoeing, and swimming.
South Bend, Indiana
June 18-23 (20 participants)
South Bend, like many other communities in the United States, struggles to address the disparity between the extremes of wealth and poverty that exist side by side in adjacent neighborhoods. Through our volunteer work, we will learn how local organizations are working to disrupt the cycle of injustice by supporting the under-resourced and providing necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. We will also create and participate in Sunday morning worship with our host, the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren.
Knoxville, Tennessee
July 21-26 (20 participants)
Knoxville Dream Center provides good food, authentic faith, and opportunities for a brighter future for those who need it most. As we partner with the KDC to provide recovery services to the unhoused and underserved, we will sort food and clothing donations, volunteer at Under the Bridge which provides a meal and worship service, and accompany food trucks to distribute groceries in food deserts. We will also explore downtown Knoxville and World’s Fair Park, swim at Ijams Nature Center, and more!
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
July 28-August 2 (25 participants)
SPARK’s mission is to share Christ’s love through service and advocacy. The SPARK program will engage us in relationship-building, education, storytelling, and service alongside formerly or currently unhoused individuals. Please note, this is an ecumenical experience, meaning that our FaithX group will participate alongside youth groups from other faith backgrounds. The full group could be large (up to 60 people), which will provide a unique opportunity to live in community with many perspectives and grow in new ways.
Sr. High
Cle Elum, Washington – Camp Koinonia
June 8-14 (20 participants)
Recharge and refresh in the beautiful Pacific Northwest forests while participating in service at Camp Koinonia! Last year we built a dodgeball court, installed insulation and drywall, stained the gaga pit, and more – there are always many cleaning, construction, and maintenance projects going on in preparation for camp and retreat groups. During recreation time, we will have the chance to swim, practice archery, eat s’mores, and enjoy other camp activities.
North Fort Myers, Florida
July 14-20 (20 participants)
ECHO is growing hope from the ground up. Their many initiatives seek to equip small-scale farmers with self-sustainable hunger solutions and they guide the world’s agricultural community by providing hands-on training. As we work alongside staff and interns to aid in construction projects and maintain ECHO’s fields and gardens, we will learn about practical and innovative ways of producing food that have positively impacted millions of lives around the world.
Adult International
Ecuador
June 1-10 (18 participants)
Fundación Brethren y Unida is a Non-Governmental Organization that provides social and community development through agriculture. FBU was formed by Church of the Brethren mission agencies in the 1970s and specializes in agroecology, rural development, water resource management, and environmental education. We will have the opportunity to learn about sustainability and organic farming as we volunteer with development and conservation projects and assist in preparing and maintaining farmland. There will also be time to explore Quito and the surrounding areas.
Adult Domestic
Eastern US – Brethren Disaster Ministries
July 28-August 3 (14 participants)
The goal of Brethren Disaster Ministries is to ease trauma and foster recovery in disaster-stricken communities across the United States by repairing and rebuilding damaged homes for disaster survivors who cannot recover on their own. As BDM volunteers, we will jump into the rebuilding process at whatever stage we find it, which means we could be cutting wood for framing, adding shingles, laying flooring, sanding and painting, or completing final touches. Please note that BDM locations are determined on a rolling basis and the exact location of this trip is not yet known – registrants will be notified when this information is available.
Older Adult
Gotha, FL – Camp Ithiel
February 25-March 1 (20 participants)
If you are an older adult who enjoys serving others and wants to bask in the southern sunshine during winter, we invite you to Camp Ithiel this February! During our time together, we will take part in projects to improve camp property and participate in creative service activities that are suitable for all abilities. We will also have daily worship and devotions, plus plenty of time to fellowship together in community.
Family
Petersburg, PA – Camp Blue Diamond
June 23-27 (25 participants)
Bring your whole family to Camp Blue Diamond for a time of service – all ages are welcome! We will participate in work projects that keep camp beautiful and join in creative service that allows both children and adults to get involved. There will also be time for classic camp activities like swimming and campfires. Child care will be provided by a licensed teacher for those that are too young to participate in volunteering or if children need a break to play or rest.
We Are Able
Elgin, Illinois
June 24-27 (10 participants)
Recognizing that everyone has gifts to share, youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities are invited to the Fox River Valley of Northern Illinois for a time of service. We will work together to sort and repackage food at local food banks and distribution centers. During recreation time, fun activities may include bowling, visiting a nature center, or going to a movie.
Custom
Custom FaithX service trips for your church or youth group are always an option! Please contact the FaithX Office at faithx@brethren.org to discuss details and cost for a custom FaithX trip.