Vicky Cornett already is
planning a trip to Albuquerque, N.M., in June 2010.
She hopes to take a group
from Dudley Shoals Baptist Church in Granite Falls to Collide, an annual
hands-on coed missions opportunity for students sponsored by Woman’s Missionary
Union (WMU). The first Collide was in 2008 in Hawaii.
Cornett, with six youth and
two other adults from Dudley Shoals, joined nearly 170 volunteers from 10 states
in Collide in Savannah, Ga., in July.
Contributed photo Dudley Shoals Baptist Church members Jessi Miller, from left, Kindley Scott, and Kaitlyn Williams volunteer in Savannah, Ga., with Collide. |
During the week, students
hosted block parties, backyard Bible clubs with churches, and Vacation Bible
School at an international church; worked in a pregnancy crisis center,
homeless shelters, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Savannah Baptist Center,
and the Savannah Baptist Center Church; and assisted in area schools, prayer
walked, fed the homeless, and painted.
Cornett, said the prayer
walking experience was a highlight for her group who were participating in
Collide for the first time.
“It was a rainy day when we
did our prayer walking,” said Cornett in a WMU article, “but there was a
peacefulness as we walked around our block and read the scriptures that were
provided and prayed for the people of Savannah.
“In the midst of the
darkness, the presence of the Holy Spirit was felt all around us.”
Cornett asserted that
Collide is especially good for groups who may be new to missions work because
everything is planned.
“There are many worship
opportunities to participate in as a group,” she said in the article.
“It is not only a time to
serve others, but it is also a time for groups to become closer in our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
She said her girls “became
closer as a group” on the trip and were able to share a servant heart to those
they helped while in Savannah.
“I was so very proud of our
girls,” said Cornett.
“They were probably one of
the hardest working groups I have ever been on a mission trip with.”
The trip has triggered ideas
for Cornett since the group returned.
“Although we live in a
small, rural community, there are shelters and soup kitchens in neighboring
towns where we can do the same types of work that we did in Savannah,” said
Cornett.
“Prayer walking can be done
anywhere.”
Other North Carolina groups
also made the trip to Savannah. Several ladies shared experiences about the
co-ed trip on the Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina web site
• Mary Caitlin Clark, a
national Acteens panelist and an N.C. Acteens panelist from Galeed Baptist in Bladenboro:
“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.
“Most people never realize
the amount of poverty in America until they experience it themselves.”
• Linda Lowery went to
Savannah with a group from Beulah Baptist Association:
“We opened our hearts to
Savannah and saw our own lives changed as a result.”
• Ruby Benge, a Youth on Mission
leader from Philadelphia Baptist Church in Stanfield:
“One inspiring thing for me
was watching God use the young people and seeing them grow and mature during
the week.”
Collide will be held June
19–25, 2010, in Albuquerque.
Visit www.wmu.com.