By Jeff Brumley
Young adult Baptists and other Christians curious about living in intentional Christian communities can learn what that life is like through a summer program offered jointly by the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ.
“Summer Communities of Service” is a 10-week program for 19- to 30-year-olds interested in developing leadership skills and working in advocacy and service work in five locations in the Northeast, South and Midwest.
A news release described the program, now in its fifth year, as “intentionally ecumenical — even interfaith” and one that has “introduced those outside of Baptist life to some of the most progressive, cutting edge” faith communities in the country.
Placement sites for 2014 are Ellis Avenue Church in Chicago, Wellspring UCC in Centreville, Va., Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., The Family Tree in Charlotte, N.C., and Metro Baptist Church in New York City.
Family Tree co-Director Greg Jarrell said the service volunteers actually make that ministry’s work possible.
“Without them we would not be able to manage,” Jarrell said in the Alliance news release.
Participants will attend a May 28-31 orientation at Meredith College in Raleigh, and begin their summer service the following week. For more information, contact Paula Clayton Dempsey at paula@allianceofbaptists.org.