Summer of Service: When Serving Others Transforms All

By Dr. Julie Wilke, Vice-President of Programs, Project Transformation National

Have you been looking for a way to feel more connected to your faith community? Maybe you’ve thought about joining a Bible study or serving on a church committee? It can often feel daunting to be an adult looking for community and ways to live out your faith outside of Sunday morning services.

Project Transformation is a national nonprofit whose mission is to transform communities by engaging children, college-age young adults, and churches (3 Cs) in purposeful relationships. Through our unique model, the 3 Cs, we work to transform communities, with each group serving as an equal teacher and learner within the community. We have chapters in Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Oklahoma, Arkansas, DC, and Tennessee. Project Transformation chapters are uniquely connected to their United Methodist conference and local churches.

My Own Project Transformation Story

When I began working for Project Transformation National, I was excited about the ways I would be in ministry with children, young adults, and churches. I have since heard countless stories of the transformation that has resulted from the relationships built and fostered among people in the Project Transformation network. One area that surprised me was the impact that Project Transformation has on the volunteers. Volunteers are an integral part of what we do. We’ve learned over the past twenty-eight years that volunteers affect the program in incredible ways, and they are positively impacted by their experiences at Project Transformation.

Church staff and volunteers pour out their love on children, youth, families, and young adults all summer long. From reading one-on-one with children to serving meals to college students to praying with parents, volunteers build meaningful connections with their community. We hear time and time again from church leaders and volunteers that the relationships built through Project Transformation have a lasting impact on their faith and energize their communities. One unique aspect of volunteering is the connection that forms between volunteers and church staff. Annually, more than 1,800 volunteers dedicate part of their summer to Project Transformation. As Project Transformation communities prepare for another season of learning, growth, and connection, we invite you to join us and be transformed.

Project Transformation is more than a summer reading program. It is a ministry of hope, encouragement, and relationship-building that helps children strengthen their literacy skills, grow in confidence, and experience the support of a caring community. Each day, children gather to read, learn, play, and build friendships in a safe and welcoming environment. Young adults rely on volunteers to read with children. Volunteers build relationships, foster connections with children, and encourage young adults in their summer experience.

Volunteering with Project Transformation transforms both volunteers and participants in the program. As volunteers build relationships with children, families, and fellow volunteers, they become part of a mission rooted in relationship and community transformation. One volunteer in 2025 said, "It was fun to see some of the same kids I saw last year and notice how they had grown. One who didn't want to read aloud at all last summer was doing much better at reading this year, and that made my heart happy. Reading is so critical to success in life!"

About the writer:

Dr. Julie Wilke has been a part of the Project Transformation National team since September 2017. She began as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction and, in September 2024, became the Vice President of Programs. Julie formerly served as facilitator for talented and gifted students, kindergarten through seventh grade, in Winfield, Kansas. Before assuming that post in 2015, she worked as a first-grade teacher in the district. She has three degrees from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas: a bachelor of arts in elementary education (2009), a master's degree in leadership studies (2011), and a doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis in teacher leadership (2018). Julie is also a Project Transformation North Texas alumna, serving her summer internship in 2008.