Logistics

Dates

Monday, May 19, 2025 - Monday, June 2, 2025

Students will need to arrive during the afternoon of Monday, May 19 and stay until June 2. Students will be free to leave anytime during the morning of June 2.

COST

The total cost for this summer is $2800. This includes housing, some meals, ministry materials, and all Summer Mission activities, but does not include the cost of transportation to Seaside Heights, NJ. (For information on transportation see the section below).

Our hope for you is that you will leave this summer with a greater view of who God is and a greater capacity to walk with him for the rest of your life. As a staff team, we want to come alongside of you to help you grow in your love for God, to be introduced to new ideas and skills regarding sharing your faith, grow in your understanding of Christ-centered community, and leave the Jersey Shore with a greater vision for how God could use you back on campus. Please know that we plan every element of the schedule with intention and purpose. You can expect to have a full 2 weeks, but our hope is that you will leave refreshed, encouraged, and energized for wherever God is taking you next. Below are some of the elements you can expect to be a part of your weekly schedule.

Community

You will get to know the people you're living with well during the Summer Mission. This is a great opportunity to not just make friends, but go deeper with people and experience Christian community. We will have some fun activities planned, but a lot of the community happens as people are hanging out in the backyard or going to the boardwalk together, or whatever adventures you decide to have!

Walk with Jesus

Every morning will start off with individual time with Jesus - prayer, being in the Word, journaling - whatever helps you connect with Him. If you're not sure what that looks like, don't worry! We will have talk about what this time can look like on one of our first days together. You will also be a part of a Bible study with other men or women where you will go deeper in the Word with others.

Ministry Skills & Development

We will have time most days that is focused on ministry skills and your development. These will include things like the importance of the Holy Spirit and living a Spirit-filled life, sharing your testimony with others, growing in understanding the value of culture (your own culture and the culture of others), vision for God's people around the world, and much more! You will also have the opportunity to put into practice what you learn as we partner with a local church to multiply what we learn into the lives of their youth.

Sharing the Gospel with Others

Whether you share your faith daily or have never shared your faith with someone, Jersey Shore Express is a great place for you! We will doing some training on how to share our faith with others and will have a survey and ways you can start off a spiritual conversation with others. And don't worry, you won't be going out alone for these conversations! Whenever we go out to have these conversations, you'll be paired with someone else. Most of the time we go sharing, we will be on the boardwalk where people from the Jersey Shore, East Coast, and around the world come to hang out!

In Cru we say the successful witnessing is taking the initiative to share the gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God. We will take steps of faith this summer to initiate spiritual conversations, hoping to share the gospel, but ultimately it is God who works in the lives of people. We simply allow Him to use us in the process.

Church

We have the opportunity to join people at Union Church of Seaside Park this summer. This has been an amazing partnership over the years. The church was actually praying for an opportunity to reach younger people who come to the Jersey Shore over the summers and God connected them with Cru and the rest is history! Everyone loves Pastor Al and his wife Elaine. Many special friendships have been formed over the years between Pastor Al, Elaine, members of the church and Cru staff and students who come to Seaside Park.

Experiences

The two weeks with have many great experiences, but one that is always a highlight is a trip to New York City! We'll get to explore some of the city and learn about different cultural enclaves throughout the city.

Click Here to apply!

You will fill out an application, which will include 2 peer references (people who know you well - a friend, someone in your Bible study, etc) and a spiritual leader reference. (If you have Cru staff on your campus or are connected at all to a Cru staff, that would be your best option. If you are not connected to a Cru staff person, please ask someone of the same gender who has leadership - a mentor or discipler, a Cru leader, someone at church you know well.)

You will need to pay a $25 application fee to submit your application.

After you submit your application, one of the Team Leaders or staff for Jersey Shore Express will review your application and get in touch with you. The person reviewing your application will contact you and will schedule a time to connect on the phone. This is an opportunity to get to know you and ask any clarifying questions. You can also ask us any questions you have.

If you are accepted, you will then get more information you need to take the next steps, including officially committing (and paying a deposit), raising support, and logistics for the summer.