Soul in the City 2025: Embodying a Higher Standard of Loving Community

By Jordan Franco.

Our diocesan missional camp, Soul in the City (SITC), was held at Grace Anglican Church (Fleming Island, FL) June 22nd–27th. We had 76 students and 13 overnight leaders participate from 19 different churches in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Baltimore. It was an ecumenical event, as we had nine Anglican churches represented and various denominations. The central premise of SITC is devoted to serving our community (see below). However, we also focus on living as the Body of Christ in fellowship and musical worship. Father Herb Bailey, our camp speaker, taught about the “third way” based off Jesus’ teaching in Luke 13:22-30. While the world frequently presents the polar extremes (i.e. cynicism vs. gullibility), Jesus teaches us the correct path (i.e. godly discernment). Seeking to follow the path of Christ, the Church is called to a higher standard of loving community, which is a powerful witness to non-believers. It was beautiful to observe students working through personal conflicts with grace and patience, and older students modeling for the younger students. SITC cultivates disciples who love the LORD and love their neighbors!     

Students and leaders divided into seven groups throughout the week, serving at 11 locations in our community, including: The Table Church, Mission of the Dirt Road, One More Child, Henderson Haven, Middletowne Apartments, Kim’s Open Door, Waste Not Want Not, City Rescue Mission Thrift Store, The Clothes Closet and Food Pantry of Orange Park, Seamark Ranch, and one of our older parishioner’s home. The campers served 1,500 hours in our community, all in the name of Jesus! After serving refugee students at Kim’s Open Door, one of our middle school students realized that while he lives in a comfortable environment, people in the world are threatened daily and fear for their lives. He expressed his deepening compassion for the people he served during the week. After another student served children and teenagers with special needs at Henderson Haven, he recognized how much we take for granted in our lives, even basic motor skills. These are just two examples of how living life on mission at SITC deeply impacts the perspective of young disciples. The hope is that as a diocese and global Church, we continue to empower and encourage young people to live courageously for Jesus, dying to themselves and loving sacrificially.  

We could never execute SITC without the help of our amazing volunteers, our older brothers and sisters in Christ who invest in the younger generation. We have a Core Team of eight parishioners who help plan the camp starting in January, 13 adult leaders who stayed overnight with the students the entire week, and 90 congregants & parents served in various capacities during the week. The Lord was faithful in providing exactly what we needed, whether it was faith, patience, financial resources, or endurance. Thank you for your prayers and support for the ministry of Soul in the City!