The city of Rochester has a deep and beautiful spiritual history. From the days of Charles Finney to today, it has been a place where people have powerfully encountered the presence of God. In 1985, Flower City Work Camp was born—actually right here at Browncroft—as a way to “unite youth groups and churches across Rochester in a shared mission: to serve our neighbors and share the love of Jesus.”

Every Spring Break, students are sent out into the city to serve on worksites, host sidewalk clubs for neighborhood kids, run sports camps, and support local nonprofit organizations. Both the city and the students who serve have been forever marked by these encounters with Jesus.

This year, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of that dream—forty years of seeing Jesus move through homes, parks, and activating the kingdom of heaven in neighborhoods all across Rochester. Back in April, hundreds of 7th–12th graders entered Rochester’s local “mission field” by day, and gathered at Bethel Church to share dinner, worship together, and study God’s Word by night.

The week was powerful–God is igniting this city in new and powerful ways. There is a growing hunger for Him, and hearts all across Rochester are being drawn to His love. Not only did God show up in the work we did—He showed up in hearts, in conversations, in moments of worship, and in the quiet ways He speaks. Some of our students experienced God in a new way this year. Others stepped out of their comfort zones and allowed Him to use them in ways they never imagined. 

But instead of telling you all about it, we wanted you to hear directly from them, our students!

Daniela Nobels – 10th Grade

“In 2023, I went to Flower City Work Camp because my friends were going, and that was my faith back then. I wanted to believe in God, but I still had a lot of doubt and didn’t want to commit to something that seemed unrealistic. When we went to FCWC, I watched my friends flourish in their relationships with Christ while I sat on the side faking it. I decided quickly that I believed ‘Jesus wasn’t for me,’ but on the last night, I started crying. The whole camp became a group of siblings—one person was no longer better than the other, or further in their walk—we were all the same. All people who loved the Father and wanted Him near.

I was sobbing with two girls I didn’t know, and as they held me, I watched the stage and the people around me. I felt the Holy Spirit, and something in me said, ‘He’s real, God is here with me,’ and I understood immediately what this was all for. The lights were off and were slowly getting brighter and brighter through the last song. That was my walk—I didn’t realize it was dimmed until the lights came on. That night I gave my life to Jesus, and those girls have still stayed by my side on fire for the Lord.

FCWC isn’t just where you meet your community, but where you meet your Lord—yourself, even. To this day, I’ve never seen anything as transformative as FCWC.

Fast forward to 2025… This was my third year at FCWC, and it’s always my favorite week of the year—helping the community while building your own Christ-centered one. I expected God to work through me in ways that took me to my knees, like He had the years before. But this year, He did something I never could’ve imagined: He started using me as His vessel.

At my worksite, on prayer walks, with fellow campers, and even during services, He began moving through me. By the last night, when I’m usually on my knees receiving prayer, I was the one praying. He led me to several people—some close friends for years, others complete strangers. FCWC isn’t such a holy place because we’re not in the world—it’s because we’re not distracted by the world. We’re serving our community without the same temptations we usually face—phones, music, and peers who live for the world. That creates space for God’s voice to become so clear, and He can change everything because you’re finally able to listen.

Without FCWC, I wouldn’t have my faith—or the knowledge of His plan for me—which I now have and am still trying to follow today.”

Kellan Clifford – 10th Grade

“So my first year in FCWC was the turning point for my faith. I never really was a big Christian—I just believed in Christ. During FCWC, I felt a strong desire to get closer to Jesus. On, I believe, Wednesday or Thursday, we were told to come and pray and accept Jesus into our hearts. I decided I would. After that, I started learning more about Jesus and eventually decided I’d read the Bible that fall—and I’ve learned a bunch.

Now in 2025, I decided I’d love to go back to FCWC—I mean, it’s the reason I have such strong faith. I saw God working so much—like we needed a fridge for our worksite, and the donated fridge didn’t work. But the kitchen happened to have a spare fridge we were able to use, which was great. I saw Jesus helping and healing my friends, and I even got prayed for for the first time—like the put-your-hand-on-their-shoulder-and-pray kind of prayer, which felt really nice.”

Liam Clifford – 11th Grade

“On Thursday night of FCWC 2024, I looked over the crowd—it felt like slow motion. Some were jumping with joy, others on their knees in tears. I felt distant from the crowd, wondering why I wasn’t experiencing the emotions they were. But I later realized that that was the most important part. I was able to see past my own emotions—not trying to force them. Memories of the lives I had seen changed during that week were going through my mind in that one moment. That reminded me that giving my life to Jesus was the right decision, solidifying my faith. I had seen many prayers answered and entire hearts turn toward Jesus.

Before FCWC 2025, I prayed that Jesus would have me experience His presence, just as others had. Then I got to camp—and every day there, I could feel the overwhelming presence of Jesus, after a long time of not.

It wasn’t just that I was sobbing with tears or jumping with joy—even though I was. It was that I wasn’t forcing my feelings, and I could just feel Jesus’ presence in the room.

I was relieved to see my prayers answered and my emotions full, even if it took so long. At that point, I knew without a doubt that something real was in the room—the Holy Spirit.

After praying for years earnestly that God would show me some purpose, Jesus used FCWC to reveal to me my own gifts—showing me how I can be a light to the people around me and how to see the light in others. Even through my suffering and anxiety, I can be a light to those who need to see it.

Every single person at camp is a walking testimony. And going to FCWC, I got to experience that. Experience the Family of Jesus.”

Wow! Thank you, Daniela, Kellan, and Liam for sharing! Every story, every testimony, says Jesus is here. We have seen Jesus. We have seen Jesus in this place, in this city. He is alive. The Jesus that turns funerals into celebrations, the Jesus that walks on water, is in our city, in our lives. I believe we’re stepping into a season where we will experience the presence of God like never before. We have seen Jesus and we cannot wait to see what else He has in store for you, for your family, for Flower City, for our city, and beyond.  

To God be all the glory forever and ever,

Lizzie Cornell, Student Coordinator