Trips – Memphis Site Information
You are about to embark on a journey with your students. A journey that will challenge, grow, and equip them to be a stronger follower of Christ. As you prepare to go use this info about your site to equip your team and learn more about your site.
We would love to put every detail of your trip down, however the size of our website would be much too large; therefore, you will have questions. Call us and we can answer any and all questions you have.
Memphis, TN
Urban Adventure Serve | Leadership & Community Impact
Serve Christ in a city shaped by history, resilience, and hope.
Trip Type:
Urban Adventure Serve
(urban ministry + leadership development)
Age Group:
Middle School, High School, Combined
Why Here?
Memphis is a city rich in culture, music, and art — the Home of the Blues — and also a place still recovering from economic shifts. Your team will partner with ministries serving youth, families, the homeless, and more, while learning how the church responds to long-term community needs.
This trip combines hands-on community impact with intentional leadership development, including the signature Memphis Mission Race—a high-energy city challenge that pushes students to communicate, solve problems, and lead under pressure.
Facts About Memphis
- Population: 611,000
- Demographics: 62.9% African American; 22.4% White; 10.4% Hispanic/Latino; 1.7% Asian; 2.6% Other
- Poverty: 23.1%
- Famous for: home of the Blues, and birthplace of Rock & Roll
What Students Will Experience
- Serve life-on-life with local ministry partners across Memphis.
- Connect with diverse community members and neighborhood settings.
- Participate in structured leadership training integrated into the daily missions experience.
- Reflect daily through guided discussions, devotionals, and team debriefs.
- Return with practical leadership tools and a renewed sense of service and purpose.
Ministry Partners
Each week’s schedule varies, but teams may serve with:
- a kids ministry – Helping with programs, games, and activities
- a rescue mission – Preparing and serving a meal; helping lead the service
- an urban farm – Weeding, harvesting, and serving local families
- and more!
The Memphis Mission Race
A city-wide challenge that turns downtown Memphis into a leadership lab. Teams navigate checkpoints, complete service-based tasks, solve problems under time pressure, and collaborate to earn the most points
Students will grow in:
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Risk-taking
- Leadership under pressure
- Real-world decision-making
- Evangelism
This is leadership in action—students don’t just learn it, they live it. The Mission Race is more than just a scavenger hunt. We want students to step up in leadership, but also step out of their comfort zone and into the growth zone. They will earn points for finding landmarks, but they will also earn points for having gospel conversations and praying with people they meet. We provide a “7 Questions” template for them to use, and walk them through it at the start of the day. They can use that as a script, or as a jumping off point. But this is really the heart of the Mission Race—meeting people where they are and offering them the hope of Christ in the form of prayer.
Typical Weekly Schedule
Day 1 – Sunday:
Arrive at site (4–6pm), settle in, dinner provided
Day 2 – Monday:
Day 3 – Tuesday:
Day 4 – Wednesday:
Mission Race
Day 5 – Thursday:
Serve with local community ministry
Day 6 – Friday:
Team house clean up and pack in the morning. Team Adventure in the afternoon (Bass Pro Pyramid, kayaking, Civil Rights Museum, etc.) *Adventure cost + dinner out not included in trip price
Day 7 – Saturday:
Typical Daily Schedule
(Exact times and activities may vary)
7:00 AM
Breakfast & Devotions
8:00 AM
Depart for Ministry Site
9:00 AM
Morning Service Project
12:00 PM
Lunch (on-site or packed)
1:00 PM
Afternoon Project or Outreach
4:30 PM
Return / Showers / Free time
6:00 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM
Team Debrief + Leadership Lesson
8:30 pm
Worship / Small Groups / Staff Teaching
10:30 pm
Lights Out
Lodging & Facilities
Your team will stay at a host church in Memphis:
- Group sleeping areas
- Fellowship space & kitchen
- Space for team debriefs and worship
- On-site parking for vans & buses
Included in Every Trip
- Housing and 16 meals
- All project supplies and tools
- Student devotional journals
- On-trip certified LeaderTreks staff
- Pre-trip Leader Training
- Post-trip follow-up resources
Trip Highlights
- Hands-on urban service where students engage meaningfully in ministry.
- Leadership development built into every day — not just an add-on.
- Strong local partnerships with established ministries, ensuring impact and relational connection.
- Team time, worship, and reflection built into the rhythm of the week.
- Return home with both memories and tools for ongoing leadership and service.
- Mission Race team challenge
- Pre- and post-trip training included
- Team Adventure Experience built into your week
Logistics
Weather:
Very warm. Average temperatures in the 90s, sometimes rain. Sunscreen is a must!
Team House:
A church located in the heart of mid-town Memphis.
Airport:
Memphis International Airport (MEM) (15–20 minutes)
Van Rental:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
First Aid:
Please bring your own team first aid kit
