ANTIOCH YOUTH SUMMER MISSIONS 2027
Mission trips can be impactful in students' lives in so many ways! We’ll be encouraging your kids to pray and talk with you about the opportunity to participate. Students who are interested in going will need to complete an application (linked below). The application MUST be completed by the student, not a parent. The deadline to apply for mission trips is Wednesday, November 25th.
Our staff will prayerfully review each application and may reach out to students for additional conversations. Please keep in mind that space is limited on each trip. As we consider applicants and make decisions, we’ll take into account students’ involvement in youth Lifegroups and services throughout the year, as well as their willingness to commit to attending at least one of these weekly gatherings as they prepare for the trip.
Students who are accepted for a mission trip will be required to pay a $25 deposit to secure their spot on the team for domestic trips and a $50 deposit for the overseas trip. We’re happy for students to participate in more than one trip as space allows! However, because spots are limited, it's very important that students accurately rank their trip preferences on the application, with their first choice being the trip they most want to attend.
A description of each mission trip is below.
Camp Nikos - Buda, TX
June 13-19 | current 7th-12th grade | Cost: $570 (covers the cost of camp for the team member & one at risk camper)
We'll be traveling to Twin Oaks Ranch in Buda, TX to help run a camp for at-risk elementary age children. The camp is put on by Mission Possible Austin, a ministry that serves the kids year-round with Bible clubs, tutoring, etc. Sean & Shannon Jones have been partnering with them for over 20 years and have seen significant fruit, such as previous campers continuing to follow Jesus as adults and be the first ones in their families to break the cycle of poverty, alcoholism, etc.
High school students will be the camp counselors. Many of the campers' stories are heartbreaking. It is common to hear that one of their parents is in prison or that they live with a relative. Many have been neglected and abused. It's rare that they've been trained at home to obey or respect authority. These kids can be challenging in various ways, so there are a lot of opportunities to depend on God for energy, patience, unconditional love, etc. This trip is not for the faint of heart. Yet, many youth have said that it is the hardest but most rewarding thing they've ever done.
Middle school students (incoming 8th & 9th grade this summer) will be the work crew and intercession team, serving behind the scenes by helping with meals, washing dishes, filling water jugs, cleaning camp facilities, emptying trash, praying for campers, etc. They'll also be buddies for the campers during their activities, giving the high school students (camp counselors) a break. This trip is for students who want to grow in prayer, step out of their comfort zone and work hard. The days are long but rewarding.
Day Camp - Waco, TX
June 28 - July 2 | current 7th-12th grade | Cost: $250 (covers the cost of lunch and supplies for a camper + expenses for the student)
We'll be hosting Day Camp at Antioch for elementary-aged children from families in our community who might not otherwise be able to afford a summer camp experience. It's been a few years since we did this, and it's back by popular demand! Our heart is to build meaningful relationships with children and families in Waco that continue long after camp ends. We're praying that students on this team will grow in their desire to live on mission right here in our own city and develop a deeper heart for the people around them.
The youth will lead songs, games, small groups, and other activities during this VBS-style camp, which will run Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm. We'll spend Monday preparing for camp and Friday debriefing and writing notes of encouragement to the campers. In addition to investing in the kids, students will help prepare meals, serve behind the scenes, and spend time together in worship and prayer.
We want students to be fully present and make the most of all God has for them throughout the week, so we're asking that they not have any other commitments during this time. The guys will stay overnight at the church, and the girls will stay together at a home.
Street Reach - Memphis, TN
July 25-30 | current 8th-12th grade | Cost: $700
We are excited to return for another summer partnering with Street Reach, a ministry of Brinkley Heights Baptist Church in inner-city North Memphis. They host youth groups throughout the summer to put on Backyard Bible Clubs in several high need neighborhoods surrounding their church.
Our team will be going to Memphis for the final week of Bible Club this summer. The groups who serve in the weeks leading up to our trip will have incrementally invested in the families we'll be ministering to, and we'll have the opportunity to wrap everything up, sharing the Gospel with them. We'll also be ministering to the community in various ways and doing service projects. This is a great trip for those who are wanting to engage kids and adults who are living in poverty and desperately need Jesus.
The church runs a school, and we'll be staying at the school with a few other small youth groups. Depending on the size of our team, we will run 2-3 of the sites. Our team will have our own designated sleeping areas and meeting space. We will be with the other youth groups for meals and evening worship. Memphis is approximately 8 hours from Waco, and we'll be using 15 passenger vans for transportation.
Barbados
July 31 - August 8 | current 9th-12th grade | Estimated Cost: $1700
We’re excited to partner with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to host a camp for kids at their base in Barbados! The exact ages of the children we’ll be serving are still to be determined. Our students will lead worship, games, small groups, and other activities, with opportunities to share the Gospel, build relationships, and help kids grow in their understanding of what it means to know and follow Jesus.
Last summer, we took a small team to Barbados and fell in love with the people, the community, and the YWAM staff. We’re grateful for the relationships we built and are excited to return for this new opportunity to invest in kids, share the love of Jesus, and partner with local believers.