Where are we headed?
Inez, located in Martin County, Kentucky. Martin County is an area plagued by the opioid epidemic, and has one of the worst poverty rates in the country. Here, there is a lack of opportunity for its residents, and children are living in vulnerable circumstances. Yet, amid the poverty, there’s a history rich in faith, fellowship, and family. We guarantee you’ve never been anywhere like it.
Why are we going?
Because when we go on a GO Trip, God often reveals himself. Plus, we want to see what happens when we allow God to lead us. Crossroads is developing partnerships in Martin County to bring about transformative change, and we want to throw some fuel on that fire. There is no better way than sending people to work alongside partners and give them a boost in their efforts to help those who are hurting.
Who can go?
This trip is for anyone—Crossroads people, non-Crossroads people, friends and family from out of town, people from all over the faith spectrum, with a heart for serving. The only requirement is that you are 13 years or older and if under 18 with a parent or guardian. Groups of two or more, like families or small groups, can sign up together.
How much does it cost?
$500. This covers your transportation, lodging, meals, work supplies, and activities. Not covered are things like souvenirs, snacks, Covid 19 tests and/or vaccinations (if you elect to be vaccinated, it’s not required).
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What if I don’t have that much money?
Join the club. Close to 90% of people who have been on a GO Trip with us didn’t have the funds sitting in their bank account or stuffed in a mattress, but nearly everyone raised the funds. Don’t let money stop you. Raising money is actually a very cool part of this experience. We’ll talk a lot more about the financial stuff and help you generate ideas for how to raise funds. We also have an awesome website that helps with this process, and a little faith goes a long way. Have some and see what happens.
Is there a deposit?
A non-refundable deposit is required as part of your application for this trip and must be paid via credit card or ACH. Cash, checks, and money orders are not accepted.
How do I sign up?
Go to www.crossroads.net/go and fill out an application no later than the posted deadline. We’ll ask you all kinds of questions like if you’re part of a group, who you’d like as your roommate, if you snore, and so on. To complete your application, you will need to pay your non-refundable deposit. Applications are not complete until the deposit is received. All applicants will be contacted once the application is received to confirm their trip participation.
What happens if more than enough people sign up? How do you decide who gets to go?
Sign-ups will occur on a first come, first served basis. Once the trip has reached its maximum number, sign-ups will automatically close and applications will no longer be accepted for that trip. There will be no lottery.
What work will I be doing?
We’re not totally sure, but that’s the fun that comes with being a part of something bigger than yourself. Our partners on the ground primarily will be directing the work on these trips. You may be swinging a hammer, working with the local food pantry, or just spending time with people in the community. Whatever you do, we promise it will be meaningful. We’ll talk more about this in our pre-trip meetings.
What if I can’t do the work?
While we hope to have jobs for all skill sets and ages, please know that the trip can be exhausting. We will be on our feet a lot and getting up early. If you have concerns about your physical situation, please talk to us. We want everyone to go on a GO Trip, but if you ignore your physical limitations up front, you could end up being miserable.
What else will we do?
What more do you need? We’ll be working in something of a cultural experience, think hoedown. Let’s just go.
Will I have to preach or pray in front of people?
Not unless you want to. This trip is for everyone, regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. But you will be challenged and have a ton of opportunities to grow.
What is the travel like?
We will carpool up and back, it’s about a 4 hour drive from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Where are we staying?
We’ll stay at our partner, Appalachian Reach Out’s facilities. You’ll have access to the basic, familiar stuff—showers, beds, food, etc. We will eat breakfast and dinner together.
What about roommates?
Everybody on the trip gets a roommate and you most likely will be in a bunk room with multiple people of the same sex. Married co-ed couples may potentially room together, otherwise you and your significant other get split up for the trip (no shacking up on Crossroads time). If you have questions, come talk to us.
What will we do to prepare for the trip?
We will have a series of meetings leading up to the trip, where you will learn more about Martin County and what we’ll be doing there, and meet others who are signed up to go. We also have a fantastic website full of trip resources. Out-of-town people will have a GO Group Leader assigned to keep them in the loop via email so they don’t have to keep coming to the ‘Nati.
Anything else you really want to tell me?
If you want to take a vacation to Kentucky, then we encourage you to do so. It’s beautiful. That being said, this is not that trip. Deciding to go with us means you want to be a part of a mission to change the world. In pursuit of that group goal, however, you may not get to do everything you want to do in the way you like to do things. It’s a part of submitting to something bigger than yourself. But if you go, we promise an incredible experience!