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Harrisburg church promotes youth mission work
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Published: June 29, 2009
HARRISBURG — - While many area students were finishing up exams and making early preparations for summer last week, Covenant Church of Harrisburg hosted a group of more than 30 youth and young adults looking to make a difference during their time away from school.
Dave Hix, pastor of Covenant Church, started The Realm Ministries three years ago in an effort to help connect service-minded groups looking to lend a helping hand with local agencies in need of volunteers.
"I was a youth pastor for years," Hix said. "We were taking mission trips all over. What I realized is there are a lot of needs in our area."
Using his contacts with other youth leaders, Hix began to spread the word that he would host groups interested in coming to Cabarrus County for mission work.
When groups express an interest, Hix coordinates with local groups like CVAN, Habitat for Humanity, Rowan Helping Ministry or the GATE Pregnancy Resource Center.
Depending on the length of the trip, volunteers may get the opportunity to work at several different locations.
"We try to provide them a good variety of ministry, so when they go back home they can say, 'Is there anything like this at home?' and there is," Hix said. "We want them to go home and feel like they can be contributors to their communities just like they were contributors to our Cabarrus County community."
During the trip, youth also take part in worship services, and Hix arranges tours and side trips to help give visitors a better sense of the area. Last week, the church hosted youth and young adults from Northeast Church in Hendersonville, Tenn. Hix arranged for the group to attend a Legends cars race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"It was a powerful week for each and every student that was involved," said Mark Lancaster, youth pastor at Northeast Church. "I heard a lot of comments from the students that said it was the best week of their lives."
For Lancaster and the youth from Tennessee, the experience was about coming together through a shared experience.
"There's just something about getting out of your comfort zone," Lancaster said. "The whole idea is connecting more — with each other and with God. It was a powerful experience."
This year marked the third time the church has worked with The Realm Ministries, and the second for Lancaster. He said the experience is different from many other mission trips because the week is custom planned for each group. Having the flexibility to design a mission experience specifically for your group helps ensure the message sticks and the group gets the most out of the week.
"Everything we do through the course of the day and the week, I want to be transferable," Lancaster said. Being able to have more say in what takes place during the course of the trip helps ensure that the youth can take what they've learned back home and continue to serve their own communities.
Hix said his latest role as facilitator allows him the opportunity to witness youth experience what he calls the "ah ha!" moment.
"I love the 'ah ha!' moment or the 'I get it' moment, where the youth cannot wait to tell you what they experienced or that moment where he realizes he's being a help to others," Hix said. "It's where they realize that it's not about stuff. It's about helping others. They realize that God has given them a special talent and they are using it to help others."
• Contact editor Jonathan E. Coleman: 704-789-9105
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