What is Summer of Service?
SOS is our busiest time of year where we host around 100 youth group participants a week for 7 weeks every summer. Weeklong mission trips for students who have completed 6-12th grade. We challenge youth to serve whole-heartedly in our community and to think critically about how God’s Word speaks to social and spiritual issues. Our prayer is that God uses this extended experience of service, worship, and fellowship to make an eternal impact on youth and those they serve as well as a visible impact offering hope and restoration to our community.
2026 Registration dates
See the Churches & Groups who will serve with you listed below each week!
Week 1: June 14 - 20, 2026
Speakers: Ray Garcia & Courtney Zellers
Week 2: June 21 - 27
Arundel Christian Church, Glen Burnie, MD
Chelten - A Church of Hope, Dresher, PA
Calvary Baptist Church, Newark, DE
Week 3: June 28 - July 2 (5 day week)
Speakers: Ray Garcia & Courtney Zellers
Worship: Joel Vaughn
Churches:
Trinity EC Church, Boyertown, PA
Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, Basking Ridge, NJ
Calvary Baptist Church, Bel Air, MD
Grace Church Lititz, Lititz, PA
Mountain View Chapel, Douglassville, PA
Week 4: July 5 - 11
Speakers: Ray Garcia & Courtney Zellers
Worship: Jim Lovelady
Churches:
Springville First United Methodist Church, Springville, NY
LutheranHANDS, Mechanicsburg, PA
Bridge Community Church/Liberti Communion, Fort Washington, PA
Windham Presbyterian Church, Windham, NJ
Week 5: July 12 - 18
Speakers: Ray Garcia & Courtney Zellers
Worship: Chasing The Light
Churches:
Springton Lake Presbyterian Church, Newtown Square, PA
Delaware County Christian School, Newtown Square, PA
Week 6: July 19 - 25
Speakers: Scott Smith & Courtney Zellers
Worship: Ripe Worship
Churches:
First Presbyterian Church of Beaver, Beaver, PA
Graystone Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Indiana, PA
Week 7: July 26 - August 1
Speakers: Ray Garcia & Courtney Zellers
Worship: Drew Wagner Band
What does the week look like?
Weeklong mission trips for students who have completed 6-12th grade. Summer of Service weeks extend from Sunday afternoon to Saturday morning. Explore the city through a prayer tour after you arrive, join us in nightly worship, and serve with your group at your ministry site from Monday – Friday.
What is a Ministry Site?
Ministry sites vary each week based on capacity and need within our communities. We can specify your track to home repair, mercy ministry, kids camp, and church partnership. Each area has specific needs to help meeting the needs of the community around them.
How much does it cost?
The cost for 7-day, 6-night weeks is $450 per person when booking & deposit is submitted by December 31st. For booking & deposit submitted on or after January 1st, 2026 the cost will be $500 per person.
The cost for our 5-day, 4-night week is $375 per person when booking is submitted by December 31st. For booking submitted on or after January 1st, 2026, the cost will be $425 per person.
After booking, we will send you a service agreement for your trip and work with you to confirm your group’s details. A $75 per person, the deposit is due in order to hold your spot.
Make checks payable to The Philadelphia Project and mail to 8230 Ridge Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19128.
What bands are playing?
We have a variety of bands coming from all over the area. Check our SOS band schedule page for more info!
Special reservation policy
The Philadelphia Project has a special group reservation policy: Cancel for any contagious disease-related reason before May 1 and the Group will receive a full refund. Cancel for any contagious disease-related reason after May 1 but up to the day prior to arrival the Group will receive a full credit.
Credits expire on Dec 31st of the year following their issue.
Where do we sleep, shower, and eat?
Groups will stay at our long-term housing location (a former college dormitory). Everyone sleeps on bunk beds with a mattress and needs to bring bedding (pillow, sheets, sleeping bag, and/or blanket).
All meals are provided from Sunday dinner until Saturday breakfast except for your dinner on your evening out on the town.
Groups will shower at our housing location.
What about transportation?
Groups are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Philadelphia. Groups are also responsible for transportation for members of their team, plus an extra seat per ministry team for Philadelphia Project staff.
Sight-seeing
Groups have one “Night out on the town” – an evening off during their week to relax, sightsee, and grab dinner together in Philadelphia. Groups are responsible for all expenses during this time, including dinner and transportation. The Philadelphia Project can provide directions and suggestions for groups unfamiliar with the city. If you would like to extend your stay in Philly to allow for site-seeing in Philadelphia on Saturday, please speak with the staff when you register your group so that we can help you plan accordingly.
Speakers
Pastor Ray Garcia
Raymond Garcia is the founder and Executive Director of The Philadelphia Project. He currently serves as Lead Pastor of a partner Church, Roxborough Church as well as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Delaware County Christian School. Married to Michelle, they have four children: Isaiah, Nathan, Cadence, and Thomas. Together they serve as the visionaries of TPP, working closely with the Board of Directors to prayerfully cast the direction and mission of The Philadelphia Project. His vision for The Philadelphia Project dates back to 1996 and has been shaped and molded by more than 100 individuals that God has aligned him with over the years.
Scott Smith
Scott Smith is a Philadelphia-based spoken word artist, emcee, host, and speaker. Scott began writing and performing spoken word poetry in 2010. Beyond the national spoken word scene, Scott has leveraged his gifts to serve the body of Christ specifically through performing at Christian churches, retreats, conferences, and festivals.
Courtney Zellers
Courtney joined The Philly Project team after spending 7 years on summer and full-time staff with the Pittsburgh Project! Courtney is from Lebanon, PA. She works hard to make sure all aspects of service trips are fun and impactful for those who come and serve!
Worship
Joel Vaughn
Week 3
Joel's musical journey began early, singing in church from the age of seven. He honed his skills by self-teaching guitar at 14 and began writing his own songs at 17. In 2013, he transitioned from a staff worship leader position to tour as an independent artist.
Jim LoveLady
Week 4
Jim Lovelady is an artist-musician-liturgist-pastor who loves the power of Story in all of its forms but especially in music. He lives in Philadelphia where he has had the opportunity to work with many wonderful artists and musicians on projects of varied mediums and genres as they tell stories that shape, challenge and inspire people to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Chasing The Light
Week 5
Chasing The Light is a three piece band hailing from central Maine that employs a blend of anthemic music mixed with heartfelt and worshipful lyrics. The band’s lineup is comprised of singer/guitarist Abraham Stephens, drummer Nate DeLeon, and guitarist Evan LaFountain.
Ripe Worship
Week 6
Ripe Worship is a worship collective comprised of more than a dozen worshippers from churches throughout Philadelphia. As a collective, Ripe Worship desires to serve and represent the body of Christ in humility, truth, excellence, and unity.
Drew Wagner Band
Week 7
Drew Wagner is an Artist, Worship Leader and Vocalist currently living in Baltimore, MD, a southern PA native with over 15 years of experience in not only in church ministry, but also professional music working as a former touring and studio vocalist. It is his hope to first listen to God's direction in his life and lead others in worship through music with humility and authenticity.