Many people love the opportunity to travel to another country and provide help and hope to the materially poor in another culture. Others feel called to serve the materially poor at home here in the United States.
Baltimore, MD ranks statistically high among U.S. cities in issues of child poverty, drug use, violence, gang activity, sex trafficking, and teen pregnancy.
Forward Edge has developed a partnership with The Transformation Center—a holistic community center that focuses on alleviating material, emotional, and spiritual poverty in one of Baltimore’s most marginalized communities.
Support a vibrant, inner-city ministry reaching out to impoverished children, families and the homeless.
Baltimore is the perfect location for middle and high school students because it exposes them to poverty and real-life difficult situations happening right here in America, and doesn’t require a passport, vaccinations or long flights.
This trip ignites a heart of servanthood and hunger within our teams to help fellow Americans living in poverty. Recent youth teams have come back with meaningful stories of salvation among their students and in the people they served.
Pastor Brian Zimmerman and his wife Carol had a dream of birthing a ministry that would spread throughout Baltimore and would include starting a school, building a state-of-the-art athletic complex, a residential treatment center, and anything else that could be used as a tool for reaching more lives for Christ!
Statistics reveal a grim reality within the city. Baltimore ranks high among U.S. cities for issues such as drug use, child poverty, violence and gang activity, sex trafficking and teen pregnancy. Many youth suffer a sense of hopelessness, despair and lack of purpose. Baltimore is a city in great need.
The Transformation Center in the heart of Baltimore offers programs that meet these pressing needs. It serves the hungry, those stuck in the cycle of poverty, addiction, surviving with educational deficiencies, and living without a spiritual compass. The Transformation Center is committed to making a lasting difference in the local community and beyond.
Any team of 10 or more is invited to serve in Baltimore. Total trip cost for each team member is $855.
IMPORTANT DATES
AT TIME OF REGISTRATION
30 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE
Trip Fee Includes:
Trip Fee Doesn’t Include:
The location of the Transformation Center is key to its ministry functions. Located in Baltimore’s Brooklyn neighborhood, the primary ministries of the center vary widely from feeding and clothing programs, Celebrate Recovery meetings, and after-school sports and Bible clubs for children. The center also hosts church every Sunday and has just opened a counseling center. They seek to reach the lost and hurting in their community and we are honored to join them in this endeavor.
Also included in the trip is a fun, historical excursion day at the old Baltimore Inner Harbor.
Forward Edge will work directly with your group leader to match the gifts and desires of your team to the projects and needs that have been identified ahead of your arrival. Each day your team will experience a morning devotional, an evening debrief, and relationship building opportunities through serving the local people.
Teams will stay in the Mission House located next to the Transformation Center. Bunk beds and cots are available; team members are asked to bring their own bedding. The team will also prepare their own meals at the Mission House in the fully-equipped kitchen.
All ground transportation on location is included in your trip fee.
IMMUNIZATIONS: Forward Edge strongly recommends that each team member has a current tetanus shot. Please consult a personal physician for any other recommendations.
COVID: Policy and preparation will be shared by Team Coordinator.
TEAM PACKS: Once team member registration is complete, Forward Edge will send individualized team packs including a Forward Edge t-shirt, Team Member Manual, and other helpful information.
Driven by compassion for Kosovar widows in late 2000 after serving on a short-term mission trip with ForwardEdge, Sheri and her husband, David, have continued to return to the Balkans and elsewhere to facilitate short term teams. They love coming alongside those sharing the love of Jesus in their own countries. In 2005, they, along with their 3 kids, moved toAlbania for a year-long assignment recording and supporting the Albanian worship community.
Now in the empty nest phase of life, they continue their day jobs, enjoy adventures with their married kids and 6 grandkids, and remain passionate to see God's redemptive work in and through ordinary people in the local and global church.
What drew you to the mission of Forward Edge?
The fact that God uses ordinary people to serve him with whatever they have!
If you could have dinner with any person in history (except Jesus) who would it be and why?
I would have dinner with my grandpa who died before I fully understood the power of prayer. A farmer and rural college maintenance man, tennis champ, and traveling worship leader himself (he played the saw!), I've heard stories all my life of his dedication to prayer for his family — I'd like to thank him and continue to learn from him.
What is something about you others are often surprised to learn?
People are usually surprised that I'm an engineer and got to work in San Diego right next to the dock where the Navy dolphins trained.
Hi! I’m Sheri, the Baltimore Team Coordinator. I look forward to working with you to plan your life-changing week in Baltimore!
If you’re interested in organizing a team of 10 or more, you can contact us by filling out the short form below. If you’re an individual looking to join a team, you can scroll through our list of open teams.