WORKING—CCC volunteers work outside Mildred Torney's home last Thursday. Pictured from left are Charlie Smith, Jonathan King, Ronny Brown and Chris Hill.

Carolina Cross Connections again working in Alleghany

With a group motto of pray and play, Carolina Cross Connection volunteers went to work at Mildred Torney's home June 17.

While three were new to the ministry, the remainder of the group was from around the state and have worked with the ministry in the past. The participants were from Forest City, Catawba, Newton and Climax.

The Experience

The volunteers that helped at Torney's home were stationed at West Wilkes Middle School, the closest CCC branch to Alleghany.

The week of June 14-18 marked the first week of the Carolina Cross Connection experience for 14-year-olds Charlie Smith and Jonathan King, as well as adult Lisa Roper. When asked, all three concurred they had heard about Carolina Cross Connection from others in their churches and wanted to see what it was all about.

Roper noted, "I have a 16-year-old who comes every year so I thought I would come and see if I could help them out."

Ronny Brown came back for a second year. "It was the joy of putting feet to the faith," he explained of his return. "Like I told the Sunday school class, Christianity is not a spectator sport, you've got to get in there and get in the game. People are a joy to work with and talk to; they're a wealth of information, they remind you of…grandparents and people in your family that are long gone. It's a give and take and a lot of times we get more than we give."

Alyssa Robinson said she came back for the people, simply saying, "They're nice." Kristen Iwerks and Megan Poe said they enjoy meeting new people.

Iwerks remarked, "It's so much fun to meet new people and actually touch other people's lives and see how not only how we touch their lives…God works in special ways in all of us. Seeing all the good things we can do for people. It really touches me every year; it really is so much fun." Of those in the group, 18-year-old Chris Hill has the most Carolina Cross Connection experience, with the week marking his sixth year helping the organization.

He stated, "It's amazing to see the change from when I first started coming in eighth grade and coming now as going to be a freshman in college. It's just amazing to see the interactions you get with the campers and the worship that you have and the relationships that you make and the people that you work for. You couldn't work for some of the sweeter people. It's truly amazing and I'll come back as long as they'll take me."

The members of the group also shared what working with people through Carolina Cross Connection means to them.