Where we will serve:

Apex Student Ministry will be partnering with our denomination's Missions organization (which coincidentally is also named “Apex”) this summer. Their goal is to assist and serve alongside long-term EFCA missionaries, leaders, and pastors all over the world! The time we spend on site with the missionaries and pastors allows them to multiply their long-term efforts while giving our students a real feel for what ministry looks like in that culture.

Laredo is recognized for its blended culture. Here we’ll have the opportunity to minister by helping children, youth, and families in need. Through the local church, we’ll serve the neighborhoods with projects on a relational level. The SBC has said Laredo is the least evangelized city in America. The people of Laredo are very open to talk about God, many simply don't have a clear understanding of the Gospel or what it means to follow Christ. Rooted more in religious and cultural Catholicism, the city is moving to greater personal and communal relationship with Christ. In addition to the openness and opportunity to share the Gospel, Laredo is also a unique city. Laredo is over 95% Hispanic and is the largest land-port to the United States. Over 40% of goods from Mexico come to the US through Laredo's bridges. Grace Bible Church has a vision to be a church that plants other campuses and churches in the city, so that the evangelical church grows neighborhood to neighborhood. They invest alongside other local churches to mobilize the local universal church as disciple makers. As a border community, there is an opportunity to minister on both sides of the border. This site supports several ministries in Nuevo Laredo, including sending thousands of Christmas gifts, support for Bible studies, and care for orphans.

 Possible ministry opportunities are repairing and renovating houses, building beds for foster children, packing books and Bibles for distribution to Mexico, providing meals, caring for immigrants, facilitating Bible studies and hosting activities for children, and connecting with Laredo teenagers to share testimonies and encouraging each other as followers of Christ. 

Trip Requirements:

Each participant must:

1. At the time of the trip, be in or have just graduated high school as a senior.
2. Have accepted Jesus as Savior and have a personal relationship with Him.
3. Be willing to submit to authority.
4. Demonstrate a servant’s heart.
5. Be willing to embrace adventure, try new things, be flexible, and have a positive attitude.
6. Sign and adhere to this contract through the Church Center App.
7. Agree to these rules:

• I will participate in the preparation process and attend all team meetings.
• I will do my best not to complain during the project and have a servant’s attitude.
• I will obey the leadership on my project.
• I will not use profanity.
• I will not use and/or purchase alcohol, drugs, or tobacco on the project.
• I will adhere to the dress code.
• I will follow safety precautions during the project.
• I understand that if I break the terms of this agreement, my leaders may choose to send me home at my own expense.

Travel Information:

Transportation: We will meet at Crossview Church on Sat, June 27th at the front doors between 5:00-5:15am to drive to Appleton Airport (ATW).  Included in your trip cost is a $30 stipend for breakfast and lunch at the airports at your convenience/ preference. 

Flights:  We will aim to arrive at ATW around 6:30am and fly out at 8:30am. We will have a lunch layover between 10:15am-1:44pm at Denver international. We will complete our flight in San Antonio at 4:55pm, where we will pick up our rental vehicles, drive to dinner and a small activity (ice cream or equivalent) with the intent to arrive at our destination by/ around 8pm. The mission trip will officially begin Sunday morning

Passports: No passports will be needed as we will not be crossing over the Mexican border.

Lodging:

We will be lodging in one of the local church partnerships. Students will be separated by gender and will be sleeping in dorm rooms. That being said, at this point, Apex Missions does not recommend bringing air mattresses or sleeping bags as we have done through other organizations in the past. 

Cost:

$1700

Yes, this may seem like a lot of money but before you write off the idea of joining this team because of the cost, please remember that we will have fundraising opportunities. If done correctly, a substantial part of this will not be an out-of-pocket expense. However, it should be stated that the final cost does fall on the participant if fundraising does not cover the expense. Mission trips are a sacrifice of time and money and to make this trip a reality, it will take commitment, lots of hard work and trust that God will provide- and HE DOES PROVIDE. 

Fundraisers:

Fundraising has dual importance. The obvious benefit is financial, but students’ participation in fundraising is key to laying the foundation of “team” that is crucial towards making this trip a success. The process of fundraising is part of the mission experience and creates “buy in” on the part of students. In other words, it’s actually discouraged to even try to pay for the entire trip out-right.

The three main fundraising opportunities for this trip will come from Letter Writing campaigns, Rent-A-Student fundraisers, and a spring cookout fundraiser (date TBA).

Payment Timeline:

Application/Sign-up Deadline:
Feb 25, 2026 ($300 deposit w/application)
2nd Deposit:
May 27, 2026 ($600 payment)
3rd Deposit:
July 1, 2026 ($800 final payment)

Training:

We will hold several training meetings covering missional topics. These meetings will be mandatory so please mark them on your calendars ahead of time. We will meet in the Apex room (exception: letter writing workshop will takepalce in the Community Room). Please be prompt for the 10:30 arrival time to ensure that everything can be covered in 1 ½ hours. We have our meetings AFTER first service specifically SO THAT you can attend the service with your parents before coming to the meeting. Parents are only required to attend the Parent & Team Meeting #4(see below).

The mandatory meetings will take place on:

Letter Writing Workshop
Sunday, Mar 8th - 12:30 to 2:30pm
Team Meeting #1
Sunday, April 19th - 10:30am to 12:00pm
Team Meeting #2
Sunday, May 24th - 10:30am to 12:00pm
Team Meeting #3
Sunday, June 7th 10:30am to 12:00pm

Team & Parent Meeting
Wednesday, June 24th 6:00 to 7:30pm