the gift of a servant's heart (#6)

The summer of 2009, I spent a week at Carolina Cross Connection with my youth from Dilworth United Methodist Church.  That summer we were at Camp Carolwood with New Hope United Methodist Church from Winston-Salem.  I was excited when I found out our camp assignment for 2 reasons- one because I knew lots of folks from New Hope and two because my sister had been named as the Lead Field Coordinator at that same camp.  I knew it would be an awesome week.

It was that week that I began to get to know the hearts of adult campers from New Hope.  We spent time each night, as adults, sharing about our days with our groups.  We also spent much time sharing about journeys, sharing about our life's story.  

The adults that I spent that week with showed me what it mean to have a true servant's heart.  Jeff Jackson, Cindy Hensley and Sandra McMullen revealed to me the heart of a true servant.  They showed to me over and over again what it looked like to be a servant of the one true King.  

Jeff- a true servant, allowing the girls to even style his hair.
Bless his heart.

Jeff Jackson is someone that has attended Carolina Cross Connection for over 20 years.  He has more knowledge than you could ever imagine about anything you'd ever want to know about.  He loves going to service weeks.  He loves seeing youth learn what it means to serve the Lord.  His love for youth and the people we worked for always amazed me. He is one that never tires- he gains strength in serving others.

Cindy and I at HOME (Homeless Missions Outreach Experience) in Asheville.

Cindy Hensley is the opposite of Jeff- her servant's heart didn't come out in her knowledge of how to build something, but came out in her ability to connect with people.  Cindy and I were in the same group in the summer of 2010 and she spent her time talking with people and I appreciated that gift.  She could talk to anybody about anything for as long as you needed her to.  This gift serves her well when she serves at Haywood Street in Asheville.

Sandra, Samantha, Tracy and I finishing up our week at Loy White.
What a week that was serving alongside those wonderful women.

Sandra McMullen and I served in the same group the summer of 2009.  For some reason, I was not very confident in my abilities that summer as a leader and we made for a good team.  Sandra is a quiet leader but has a heart of gold.  She's a good combination of Jeff and Cindy's gifts.  Sandra is one who has knowledge to do what needs to be done but can relate well with people.  She knows how and when to show love in just the right ways at just the right time. 

A group these Sandra and Jeff helped lead in 2012!

I am thankful for the three of them and for the gifts they have shared with me over the years.  All of them have taught me what it means to have a servant's heart.  It is because of their example that so many of the youth I have worked with know what it means to serve with a joyful heart.  Thank you Jeff, Cindy and Sandra for following the example of Jesus.  You all are a blessing to so many.  I am thankful that each of you are a part of my story.