St. Augustine
Local leaders with a powerful vision for mentorship and support for at-risk, single, young mothers, have asked for your group's help to continue their powerful ministry in St. Augustine.
Will your school consider saying yes?
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Johns County presents a striking contrast: while it is statistically Florida's wealthiest county, that wealth is often locked behind gated communities, leaving many in St. Augustine in a severe affordable housing crisis. Many are "financially homeless," living in cars or motels, while rural pockets like Hastings and Elkton function as "food deserts" with high unemployment and limited access to basic services. From the historically overlooked streets of West Augustine to the agricultural outskirts, the community faces a growing population of unaccompanied homeless youth and isolated seniors struggling with a profound "loneliness epidemic."
A local ministry home works to serve this need through an intentional two-year program for single mothers of young children. Those accepted into the program receive housing, life skills training, and mentorship from community senior women who live in the home with them. The ministry is supported by a thrift store, which also serves as a place for some of these women to work. Their goal is to help break the cycle of poverty by offering housing, comprehensive support, and accountability to mothers, children, and senior women alike.
Gallery
Ways to Serve This Community
Facility and Thrift Store Support
Students will get their hands dirty with the everyday maintenance and beautification of the women's homes and facility grounds. Students will also join forces with their thrift store team helping them process the thousands of pounds of donations that arrive every day.
Encouragement & Skills Sharing
Beyond hands on labor, your group will serve as God's encouragement to this valuable ministry. They will have opportunities to pray for women in the program as well as for those who lead the ministry and conduct the daily operations. Students may also have opportunities to share life skills with the women in the programs or help with their children.
Long-Term Partnership: Faithful Presence
Because God has blessed this ministry with excellent visionary leadership, it will be here for the long-haul. Your group will have the opportunity to invest in this community and ministry as a faithful presence for years to come. The blessing of our service is maximized through long-term partnership.
What a Week Could Look Like
Every GO Serve trip is tailored to your group, but here's a sample of how a week with Mission St. Augustine might unfold.
Travel Day
- Fly to Jacksonville Airport
- Mission trip kick off at Mission Nombre de Dios
- Settle into Beach Hotel
Service Day
- Abide Time with Jesus
- Meet the Ministry Team
- Service (at Homes or Main Office)
- Prayer Walk
- Team Devotions
Service Day
- Abide Time with Jesus
- Service (Facility Maintenance, Skills Sharing, or Thrift Store Support)
- Afternoon Activity
- Team Devotions
Service Day
- Abide Time with Jesus
- Service (Thrift Store Support)
- Afternoon Activity
- Team Devotions
Adventure Day
- Abide Time with Jesus
- Adventure Outing (Kayaking Dolphin Tour, Trolley Tour of St. Augustine, or Gator Airboat Tour)
- Southern Fried Chicken Lunch
- Beach Afternoon + BBQ Dinner
- Team Worship on the Beach
Debrief and Travel Day
- Abide Time with Jesus
- Pack Up
- Trip Debrief Dinner Brunch
- Fly Home
One School, One Community
A U.S. partnership follows the same model as our international trips — your school is matched with one domestic ministry for a long-term relationship, not a one-time visit. We handle ground transportation, lodging, meals, training materials, and safety procedures so your team can focus on the relationship and the ministry.
Interested in learning more about the specific needs and opportunities at this site? Reach out and we'll walk you through what a partnership with Mission St. Augustine could look like for your group.
Holistic Spiritual Formation
We know that as a school leader, you have been praying for the growth of your student body—that they may mature and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord (2 Peter 3:18).
We pray that GO Serve is one way your prayers are answered. This trip is intentionally designed to serve your group's unique spiritual needs while meeting the needs of those we serve. Every aspect of this journey—from itinerary, to devotional topics, even to fun outings—is designed to meet the discipleship outcomes you have been praying for.
We will work together to create a spiritual formation focus specific to your group and integrate it throughout your trip.
Interested in This Partnership?
Tell us about your group and we'll help you explore a partnership with Mission St. Augustine.