Carolina Cross Connection

Carolina Cross Connection.

When you read these words, there are a myriad of different reactions. For some, you are reminded of weeks spent serving others, summers spent on staff, and lives changed and touched. For others, you think of me telling you stories of my staff and campers. For others, you have no idea what it is. Well, let me tell you about it.

Carolina Cross Connection is the closest to heaven I've ever been.

Let me explain that a little bit. For the past two summers, I've been lucky enough to be involved with two different staffs. On those staffs, I have experienced love, grace, forgiveness, and joy like nowhere else I've ever been. And my campers: they bring happiness, love, the occasional bit of frustration, and they teach me more than I could ever have dreamed. The people we work for: they provide hope. I know that should be the other way around, but somehow, it's not. Somehow, each person I meet, I find myself wanting to be a little more like them. I want their spirituality, their love for others, their willingness to be humble. I don't know why God has blessed me with these opportunities to meet my staff members, my campers, and those we work for, but I find myself closer to God with every summer, every day, that passes.

So, back to the closest to heaven. Third camp week of this year, during our vespers worship (for you non-CCCers, that's the loud and crazy fun one), I found myself at the end, watching everyone else. I saw sixty people who didn't know each other four days before, with their arms wrapped around each other, swaying and singing "How He Loves" at the top of their lungs. And it was shockingly beautiful for something so simple. I thought in that moment, "This is what heaven must look like." People who don't know each other, people who may not speak the same language, singing and praising God because He loves us so much.

Carolina Cross Connection is more than paperwork and setting up worships. It's the people with their hands around each other, praising God. It's listening to an 82 year old man share his testimony of overcoming alcohol addiction. It's talking to a camper who wants to be saved. It's watching kids talk about Jesus together, and listening to them encouraging each other. CCC is much more than ministry; it's the kingdom of God showing up on earth.