AL Church Sends Youth to Homeless Encampment Without Prior Consent

Courtney Wingo trusted Leatherwood Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama, to take her 12-year-old daughter Kamryn on a youth trip in the Houston-area from June 4–7. But she believes the church betrayed her trust and risked her daughter’s safety.

“This trip was executed with no proper planning, no consent, and no consideration for the safety or readiness of the children involved,” Wingo told MinistryWatch. “My daughter was unprepared and shaken by what she saw in the tent city. It’s deeply troubling to me that an adult in a position of leadership would act so recklessly — especially when responsible for other people’s kids.”

Kamryn, who has been attending the youth activities at Leatherwood on Wednesday nights, was excited for the trip; she even used her birthday money to pay the $250 trip cost.

When the trip was first promoted in March, it was called a youth camp. The itinerary included the expected activities, including games, worship times, a service project, and a trip to the beach.

After an information meeting about the trip on May 28, Wingo said she asked Mike Webb, the church youth ministries director, about the specific nature of the service project the group would be doing.

She told MinistryWatch that she remembers specifically asking if her daughter would be under bridges handing out tracts to homeless people. Wingo is familiar with Houston and that it is considered one of the most dangerous cities in America for violent crime.

Wingo said Webb assured her the service project involved time serving at an area food bank. Satisfied, Wingo gave the church the remaining balance for the trip.

On May 28, the same day as the information meeting, a social media post now framed the trip as a “mission trip” but did not make any mention of plans to visit a homeless encampment. Nor was Wingo contacted about any change in the trip itinerary, she said.

On June 5, a Leatherwood Student Ministry post asked readers to pray for the group as they “serve in the food warehouse and share the gospel wherever God leads us!”

However, according to a sermon delivered by Webb on June 8, Webb wanted to get the kids “out of their comfort zone.” After serving at the food bank, he googled where to find the homeless in Houston. Then the group drove to a tent city.

When they pulled up, Webb himself said he was fearful and recognized the possible danger in taking the students into the homeless encampment. He thought, “Ain’t no way I’m getting these kids out of this van. I will be fired. Mamas will be beating down my door.”

Source: Read the original report