Five NC Acteens and Youth on Mission teams participated in CollideSM, a national WMU co-ed missions experience in Savannah, GA, during the week of July 25-31, 2009. Collide focuses on student missions, cultural encounters and changed lives. This summer, a team consisting of an NC Acteens panelist along with Acteens from Galeed Church in Bladenboro and University Hills in Charlotte had the amazing opportunity to go on mission in Savannah.
Mary Caitlin Clark, NC Acteens panelist, shares,
We had the privilege of working with Pastor Harry Coursey and the Savannah Baptist Center Church doing creative ministry in the public housing and parks surrounding Historic Savannah. We also got to pass out sandwiches and water to the homeless and The Slip Disc® frisbees to tourists at Tybee Island Beach. God had a huge blessing in store for us in Savannah, and we could feel His presence everywhere. We were able to paint faces and perform puppet shows for the kids in the housing projects and even got to share the gospel. It didn’t take long for us to realize, however, that no matter how prepared we thought we were, it was very hard to keep the attention of a large group of children, and the best Plan B was to just show them how much we loved them. On the other hand, our trip was also very humbling. Most people never realize the amount of poverty in America until they experience it themselves. We were able to impact so many lives by just giving someone a sandwich or a cold bottle of water. God gave us the opportunity to use the talents He has blessed us with to minister to others and taught us how to love the way He loves us. The people of Savannah are often in our thoughts and prayers, and God is truly working in this city.
Linda Lowery shares,
The week was an exciting one for four Acteens and two adults from Beulah Association in Roxboro, NC, as we participated in Collide 2009 in Savannah, GA. From opening ceremonies on Saturday, during which our own Lyndsey Day shared her feelings about Collide from its beginning in Hawaii a year ago, to the emotional closing ceremonies the following Friday at Bull Street Church, we opened our hearts to Savannah and saw our own lives changed as a result. Three of the girls had never experienced Collide, and at the end of the week it was such a joy to hear them all say they would do it all over again, even amid the sweltering heat! The young ladies were Kaitlin Burke of Rock Grove Church and Karmen Clayton, Melony Parham and Lyndsey Day of Mill Creek Church. Linda Lowery and Beverly Day of Mill Creek Church accompanied the youth.
We partnered with the Savannah Baptist Center, South Newington Church and Second Harvest Food Bank for morning and afternoon assignments. At the Baptist Center we began by sorting and bagging hygiene items that had been brought by the various groups to be distributed to the homeless who are found in large numbers in this area. After that we headed to the sewing and craft room that is so humbly cared for by volunteer Joy Tumblin. The girls, under Joy’s direction, quickly learned about cutting patterns, sewing and pressing seams to lock them! That was new to me, 40 years from the time that I learned to sew. We all worked diligently creating angel costumes with Joy that will be used in the community Christmas program that the center provides for the many children who attend the center for afterschool and summertime activities that otherwise would have little time with loving adults. Joy wanted to have 25 to 30 costumes for angels so that any child who desired could have a part in the program. What a wonderful idea! Somehow I imagine, after having seen the children, that they may have a play somewhat like THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER!!
Our hearts were blessed with the people that we met while going door to door with South Newington Church, but one stands out. A lady who is battling stage 4 breast cancer and also lost her husband to cancer last year, seemed to need not only lawn care, but youth leader Will and his wife Amanda were able to spend time with her and show her their love and concern, and that was what she needed even more than the lawn care. God does work in mysterious ways if we will just be the hands and feet of Christ. We may never see the results of the seeds that we helped sow or the costumes that we helped sew, but God will provide the blessings!”
Martha Edwards, Acteens leader from Ephesus Church, Spring Hope shares,
Our trip to Collide was certainly a “growing” experience for our girls – especially the middle schoolers. Upon arrival they were in culture shock – partly because they were away from home and family but mainly because they were in a place so different from anywhere they had been. In spite of all its beauty, Savannah appeared to be a very dark place to them. They came to understand that God had called us to Savannah and that there were needs we could help to meet. Our first experience was at the food bank. Karen Franklin did an excellent job of relating to the girls the workings of the bank with a strong emphasis on the need for the bank – poverty and hunger go hand in hand. Many in Savannah were in need of food, and many agencies were working together to try to meet that need. We learned that “mission work” often involves physical work that might seem menial. Lining up cans of food on a shelf took on much deeper meaning when the girls were asked to help an agency representative collect food from the shelves to be used by homeless people. The food had to be “ready-to-eat” in cans with pop tops. Suddenly they could almost see someone opening and eating the food they were handling.
Our second ministry project was similar in that it consisted of physical labor – washing windows, sweeping the sidewalk, dusting shelves, arranging clothes on a rack, etc. We were working in Blessingdales Thrift Store in downtown Savannah. Where were the “lost” that they had pictured witnessing to when they came to Collide? Then they got a tour and testimony from director, Miranda Marshall. They learned that making the store as attractive as possible and the merchandise appealing to the buyers was critical, because the money made here would go to support The Living Vine Christian Maternity Home. They heard her story of how God had led her to this ministry – an unlikely place, not in her plans but in His. She praised God for the girls and women who are being helped by this ministry as they face an uncertain future. Again, they could almost see a girl receiving food and shelter at the Living Vine. In fact, they then met one of the residents who was training as a clerk in the store.
Our third ministry was quite different. We led crafts and recreation at a day camp at Windsor Forest Church – a beautiful church with outstanding facilities (including a family center with a gym, kitchen, classrooms and well equipped playground.) “Dr. Mac”, the pastor, was quick to answer the question floating around in all our minds: what were we doing there? Why did this church need help from us? He explained that this church, though once thriving with 450 in attendance, had recently almost had to close its doors. The church had been through crisis and conflict, losing many of its members. Rather than give up, they called new ministers and asked for help in reviving the church. Help came from Collide in three groups – ours, another one leading VBS and another painting the fellowship hall. It was the adults, the church members, who may have received the greatest gifts – a revived spirit and a renewed determination to do their part to serve God at Windsor Forest.
If the Collide kids could travel to Savannah to help, surely they could get busy for God right at home. In addition to the ministries, our girls were blessed by the friendships they made and the worship services they attended. It strengthens their walk to see other youth with their focus on service who are willing to work for God. We are thankful God made it possible for our small group to be a part of something so amazing!!
Ruby Benge, Youth on Mission leader from Philadelphia Church, Stanfield, shares,
Our team held VBS for the adults at the Savannah Baptist Center. We registered 30 and had worship in Bible study, music and crafts. We also had a group of kids there each night. Our 10-member team rotated duties each night. We shared the life and love of Jesus, the stories of Joseph, Job and Daniel. We made t-shirts, flower pots and arrangements, window clings and picture frames. One team chose the life of Job as the Bible study. Our student Paige shared about her grandfather who had recently passed away and the challenges he had faced. That night a husband and wife identified with those challenges as the husband had had recent surgery and was still battling health concerns. Paige saw the pages of Gods plan unfold as she was able to relate to this couple. Each night ended with a meal together. We prepared spaghetti, hotdogs, chicken and sandwiches. God opened our eyes to the needs of those attending and the fellowship was sweet.
We also worked at the Second Harvest Food Bank on Monday and Tuesday, at Heritage Healthcare on Wednesday (transported to activities, led exercise, joined in worship, some individual activities) and at the Living Vine on Thursday (yard work and windows). Our group really enjoyed working at Heritage Healthcare. We were asked to transport the residents to exercise. Then we were asked to lead exercise with the assistance of a CD, but the CD was broken, so two team members led the exercise freestyle. We got to take the residents to worship. At the end, our group went up and sang some more with them, and then the residents started singing songs they loved. It was fun.
One inspiring thing for me was watching God use the young people and seeing them grow and mature during the week. I also talked to Pastor Harry after our trip, and he shared that one of the ladies in our group has now accepted Christ. He promises to keep us updated on others that we came to know and love in a short time. God is so good!