Our Story

Who we are…

As a non-profit Christian camp, SOS hosts volunteers throughout the year to work with inner city homeowners to make homes warmer, safer and drier in the name of Christ. SOS hosts nearly 2,000 volunteers a year to participate in one of our two camps: SOS (Binghampton) – Spring Camps for college students, Summer Camps for junior and senior high students, and groups of any age during our Fall Work Days; and SOS114 (Orange Mound) – Summer Camps for junior and senior high students. Click here for more information about our home repair camps or to register.

SOS is able to offer free home repairs to qualified homeowners. Volunteers and homeowners work together to strip and shingle roofs, replace rotten floors and leaky plumbing, repair damaged sheetrock, scrape and paint siding, and repair a host of other needs. We do all of this as a means to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

Beginnings…

Service Over Self, Inc. was born out of the vision of Tom Marino who was working with James Loftin in the youth ministry of Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC).  They felt called to initiate mission work for students that was local and Christ-centered.  So in the summer of 1986 CUMC launched SOS with two youth groups participating – CUMC of Memphis and First United Methodist of Clinton, MS. That first summer two homes were repaired. This two-week inner city missions experience in 1986 has now grown into a year-round non-profit Christian home repair mission camp. SOS now partners with several local churches and recruits hundreds of churches from all over the country to participate in one of our many mission camps. In its 25 year history over 20,000 SOS volunteers have repaired more than 700 homes.

Binghampton…

Since 1998, SOS has specifically targeted one inner city neighborhood, Binghampton, for the purpose of fully investing in a particular community of need. The ministry and work of SOS has been greatly enhanced through partnerships with other organizations, community members, and families that have relocated to Binghampton for the purpose of ministry. Whereas SOS is able to help meet the housing needs of many Binghampton homeowners, our partner organizations and concerned community members are able to address other needs such as: employment opportunities and job training, enhanced education, violence prevention and many others.

SOS Academy…

In August of 2005 the SOS Academy was born.  The SOS Academy is a one year internship that trains and equips 19-26 year-olds to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God in an urban context.  This ministry developed as we had more and more college summer staff graduating college with a desire to move to Memphis to love and serve Binghampton. The SOS Academy now hosts anywhere from 5-10 interns each year who live in community in Binghampton, are discipled by our full-time staff and ministry partners, and gain practical ministry experience working with one of our many partner organizations. Click here for more information or to apply.

SOS114…

In the summer of 2009, SOS began work in another inner city neighborhood, Orange Mound. This new initiative was named SOS114, reflecting the zip code in Orange Mound (38114) as well as John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. SOS114 is a grassroots endeavor, much like SOS in the early days. Campers and homeowners work together to make homes warmer, safer and drier in the Historic Orange Mound community. SOS114 is staffed by our SOS Academy interns and hosts six weeks of camp for junior and senior high students during the summer. SOS will continue to focus on Binghampton, but it is also our hope to implement principles learned in Binghampton throughout other inner city neighborhoods of Memphis, such as Orange Mound.

Now…

Over the years, more than 20,000 volunteers have spent time with SOS in the heart of Memphis working alongside urban homeowners. We have repaired over 700 homes. And all of this is done with the gospel at the heart of our motivation. We believe that Jesus preached the gospel in both word and deed. He commands us to “repent and believe the gospel,” (Mark 1:15) and he also reaches out and heals lepers (Matthew 8:3). One is not a means to the other, but have equal weight. Our actions will validate our words and our message must be filled with selfless compassion. We desire to introduce homeowners, campers, volunteers and neighborhoods to the One who can change our home and our heart – Jesus Christ. True and lasting change can only come when people are reconciled to God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ’s love is our only hope.