UVF Students Serve on Spring Break Mission Trips in Georgia and Philadelphia
Over Spring Break, two teams of University of Valley Forge students had the opportunity to serve on mission trips in Savannah, Georgia, and Philadelphia, partnering with local ministries to share the love of Christ through outreach, children’s ministry, and service to underserved communities.
Serving the Community in Savannah
In Savannah, students served alongside Life Bridge Inner City Ministry, where they helped minister to individuals experiencing homelessness, supported a local church, served in children’s ministry, distributed groceries, and assisted with practical needs around the church. For many students, the trip was both an opportunity to serve and a chance to grow in compassion and obedience to the Lord.
Karis, one of the students who participated in the Georgia trip, reflected on the experience by sharing, “Our team was able to go and serve the homeless and also the pastor at the church. We did kids ministry, passed out groceries to the homeless, and spent time ministering there too.”
She also shared how the trip broadened her perspective on the needs around her.
“It kind of opened my eyes to not just see online what people are going through, but to actually see it in person,” she said. “I feel like God used us to spread His Word and His love just through our actions and by reaching out to people and talking to them.”
As the week went on, students saw how even simple acts of service could make a meaningful impact. From organizing clothing closets to preparing and distributing sandwiches, the team learned that no act of love offered in Jesus’ name is too small.
“Everything that we do is to glorify God,” Karis said. “Even those little things, like wrapping sandwiches and giving them out to people, it’s something really special too.”
She also reflected on how the experience reshaped the way she thinks about missions.
“Going on this mission trip has really impacted me and shown me that missions is going out to other places that really need it, but it’s also right where you’re at,” she said. “If God’s leading you to help someone, then just do it. It’s just taking time and seeing what’s right in front of you and going and doing it.”
Sharing Hope in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia team partnered with Highway Tabernacle Ministry, where they served through an inner-city school, children’s programming, homeless ministry, and street outreach. Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to come alongside those already ministering in the city while building relationships and pointing people to the love of Christ.
Zoe Licea shared, “Every day in Philly, we had the opportunity to serve at an inner-city school and participate in activities with the kids. One of the main ways I saw the Lord use our team was to bring hope to people from different families and backgrounds which may have been broken. I think the people felt very loved and seen. Through the trip, God gave me a new burden to share the gospel with others.”
Kennedy, another student on the Philadelphia trip, reflected on the ways the team was able to support the ministry already happening there.
“During this trip, I think our team really had the opportunity to serve the people who are already ministering there in the school and Philly and alleviate some of their burden,” she said. “It was such a blessing to get to spend time with the kids and encourage them and teach them more about what it is to love the Lord and to resemble His love in your community.”
She also shared that some of the most meaningful moments came through prayer and personal connection.
“During our trip, the Lord really used our team in a lot of moments to get to pray with people, the children, those we met on the street, and just bring before the Lord real needs that they were experiencing,” Kennedy said. “It was such a joy to get to learn more about people’s stories and really pour into them.”
One moment in particular stood out to her during the week.
“Probably my favorite moment of ministry was during a night of giving event at the church hall, when I had the opportunity to pray with a single mom and her daughter,” she said. “During that prayer and learning more about her story, I really could feel how much the Lord deeply loved her and saw her need. That moment really stuck with me.”
Kennedy also reflected on how the trip challenged the team’s understanding of what it means to follow Christ in everyday life.
“During this trip, I think for a lot of our team members, the bar was really raised for what it looked like to follow the Lord and serve Him in your local community,” she said. “We really got to see tangibly the power of prayer and the Lord’s deep love for those in our community and in need.”
Growing Through the Call to Go
For both teams, Spring Break became more than a week away from campus. It was an opportunity to live out the Gospel, serve others with compassion, and be reminded that missions begins with simple obedience to whatever God places in front of us.
We are grateful for the ways the Lord worked in and through our students during these trips, and we praise Him for the opportunity they had to share His love in Georgia and Philadelphia.
Find out more about where our students are serving on missions trips this year here.
Learn more about Life Bridge Inner City Ministry in Savannah, GA.
Learn more about Highway Mission Tabernacle in Philadelphia, PA.
