Freshman CFX

Uniting the Christian community in order to demonstrate God's love through offering the first fruits of the harvest to those in need. First Fruits Farm is a non-profit corporation founded as a ministry to provide fresh produce, honey, eggs, and beef for various shelters, soup kitchens and food banks. It is a Christian ministry dedicated to feeding the hungry with nutritious, fresh-picked fruits and vegetables. It is a mission that welcomes all brothers and sisters to experience fellowship, the beauty of God's creation, and the power of the gospel to change lives. The farm has over 100 acres dedicated to growing fresh fruits and vegetables to feed the hungry. Refrigerated trucks from the Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network help to transport the harvest to soup kitchens, food banks and shelters in the Baltimore/Washington region. Since 2004, over 3.1 million pounds of fresh produce were provided to the hungry of our community. First Fruits Farm is an all-volunteer operation, so every volunteer is appreciated.

Click here to watch a short video about First Fruits Farm.

The trip runs from Monday through Thursday, with two days spent working on the farm harvesting produce that will go to various shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks. While not working, students learn about the realities of poverty, hunger, and homeless in our world—including the systems and structures that contribute to it. Through reflection and prayer, students will come to new understandings of these realities and think about how they can be a part of combating these injustices in their own ways.

CFX is about serving those living in poverty and trying to understand what Jesus was asking of us when he said, “Love your neighbor.” The week is about living together as a community centered on the person of Jesus Christ. In order to do this, the four cornerstones of community, simplicity, prayer, and service are all important aspects of the week. When working in the community, we are not there to impose our values and standards of living on those that we serve. The simple fact is that many who go to serve receive even more from those they help through harvesting food and sharing one's experiences. Most volunteers leave feeling they are taking home more than they have given because the people they work with are rich in spirit, family values, pride, and faith.

The CFX Maryland service trip is open to current freshmen only. After submitting their applications, students will then go through a review process by a committee of faculty, staff, and administration before selections are made for the trip. Once the participants have been selected, each student’s family will be required to pay a participant's fee of approximately $350 to cover the cost of food, transportation, and to stay at the retreat house. If you are selected for the program and you cannot participate for any reason, you must let Ms. McCann know ASAP and you will be placed on the wait list.

The program requires leadership, maturity, and dedication to others. This program is for those students willing to accept the challenges, responsibilities, and guidelines described above, and may not be for everyone. Many high school students have found such service trips to be incredible, life-changing, and exciting experiences in which they have learned new skills, ministered to wonderful people, made new friends, and grown closer to God.