Youth Serve in Knoxville Through FaithX
LCOB youth traveled by van to Knoxville, Tenn., from July 30 through August 4 for our 2023 work camp experience. The trip was organized through the Church of the Brethren’s FaithX program. This was our first FaithX trip since 2018 and our first ever combined junior and senior high-age trip through FaithX.
We traveled south and stopped for the night at Bridgewater (Va.) COB where we met up with the other team members from the Manassas (Va.) COB. Their group of two leaders and five youth combined well with our group.
After our arrival in Knoxville we settled in at the Laurel Church of Christ, where we slept in Sunday School classrooms and had the use of one women’s and one men’s shower. Each day our team had tasks to do. We would help to make a meal, clean up after a meal, or share the morning devotion. Everyone made their own bag lunch to prepare for work each day.
Monday through Thursday we worked with the Knoxville Dream Center. KDC operates various programs to provide for the needs of the unhoused and low-income population around the city. KDC leaders Tommy and Ross did a fantastic job giving our team good work to do and good ways to serve the community. Together we packed boxes; organized food donations; prepared food; delivered teacher gifts through the “Make a Teacher Smile” program; and handed out free meals, water, and clothing to the community as part of the Under the Bridge project.
Each day included fun time too. We went out for ice cream, twice we had the opportunity to go swimming, and youth played in the gym and around the classrooms of the church (in the dark). Thursday was a day to explore downtown Knoxville, where we stopped at Rocket Fizz (a large variety candy and soda shop), Mast General Store, Ham and Goodies (with a Famous Lemon Cookie), and Tall Man Toys and Comics (with a huge collection of Funko Pop). Just as the predicted rain was approaching, the group went to Dead End BBQ for our taste of a southern meal, Tennessee style.
Thank you, church, for your support for our youth group to share in this service experience.
–Linda Byers, Director of Youth Ministries