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.

Video screenshot / Leatherwood youth visit Houston-area homeless encampment

“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.

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On June 4, Kamryn was dropped off at the church to be taken with the group of about 75 kids and 11 adults to the Atlanta airport for the flight to Houston.

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.”

However, at the prodding of someone named “Christian,” Webb said he got the group out and they began talking to the homeless groups gathered there and agreed to come back with food the next day.

Later that day, back at the ranch where the group was staying, Kamryn called her mom and reported what had happened. She said she was not given the choice to remain in the van with any of the leaders.

Kamryn was not given any evangelism training, Wingo said, nor were any safety instructions provided, other than “stay close.”

On June 6, many from the group returned to the tent city, but this time students were given the option to stay at the lodge. Kamryn chose to stay behind.

Webb admitted he pressured at least a few of the students to return to the homeless camp.

As Wingo listened to Webb’s June 8 sermon with details about the youth trip, she grew more upset and angry.

After the service, Wingo confronted Leatherwood Senior Pastor Phil Winningham about the trip’s dangers and lack of supervision. She told him about her prior conversation with Webb about the service project — a conversation Webb denied.

“You took my child somewhere dangerous,” Wingo said she told Webb. But he replied that Kamryn was fine and that “God had called him to do it.”

The church refunded Wingo $250 for the trip, but she remains concerned about how they have handled the matter since.

Wingo sent a certified letter with her concerns, but has received no reply.

“[Kamryn] was completely unprepared — emotionally, physically, and spiritually — for what she encountered in the tent city,” Wingo wrote. “She feels hurt, misled, and betrayed. That is not the spiritual or emotional impact I was expecting from what was advertised as a church-sponsored youth event.

“This is not about whether ministry to the homeless is right or wrong — it is about the ethical, legal, and moral obligation to protect minors, communicate transparently with parents, and respect clearly stated boundaries. It is completely unacceptable for a youth pastor to disregard a parent’s explicit instructions and expose children to high-risk environments without consent,” Wingo wrote.

Wingo no longer allows Kamryn to attend Leatherwood’s youth activities. She doesn’t trust the leaders to protect her daughter.

Wingo is thankful nothing dangerous happened to Kamryn—but it could have, and churches should not take that risk with the children’s safety, she said.

“Staying silent doesn’t protect children — it protects bad judgment,” she said about why she’s speaking publicly about the incident.

A quick google search lists guidance that ministries should take for mission trip protocols, including appropriate risk management, capable and accountable leadership, biblical and timely training, and post-trip evaluation.

Leatherwood Baptist Church did not respond to multiple requests for their safety protocols, trip plans, post-trip review, or other lessons learned.

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