A Humbling Experience...

By Matt Acton

Those were the words used by one middle school student to describe his week-long tenure at the Pittsburgh Project and I'm confident many of those in attendance would agree.

On August 6th, 26 individuals from Student Ministries boarded their vans and began the journey for the home of the 2005 Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers and Mr. Roger's original neighborhood. Once there, they were greeted by the energetic staff of the Pittsburgh Project and reunited with Student Ministries alumni and current small group leader, Kristen "K.P." Peterson, who had been serving this summer on the Pittsburgh Project staff. And, the adventure began.

Our team was divided into smaller teams; some intermixed with youth groups from all over the country and some made up only of students from Central. The mixed teams had the unique opportunity to meet and work with students from different backgrounds and the Central teams were able to get to know each other better as they worked alongside one another. Our teams were sent out each morning, equipped with the necessary tools, for a day of hard work in the boroughs of Pittsburgh. Some of us painted, others hung drywall. Some were able to use previous skills and knowledge at their worksites, others learned new skills. Many put aside their own fears and concerns to do what needed to be done.

At the end of the day, we returned back to the Project for the evening program, called Club. Our bodies may have been weary from the day's labor, but not so tired that we were unable to get into that night's worship or listen intently to that evening's message. The theme of the Pittsburgh Project this summer was "There's a Person Inside." We weren't working on empty or abandoned buildings; we were working on homes with residents inside. We had opportunities to talk and listen to these people. In some cases, we worked alongside them. We weren't just slapping paint on the side of the walls, but restoring dignity to the homeowner inside. Halfway through our mission week, the owners of the homes we'd been working to repair joined us for Club. We worshipped together. Then, instead of listening to a message, we listened as homeowners stood and shared their stories with us. If only you could have heard what they shared. The only thing more compelling than the experiences of those who attended the Pittsburgh Project, were the stories shared that night.

If you would like to hear more of our stories from Pittsburgh, we would love to share them with you. Feel free to speak with Josh B, Renee B, McKenna B, Mike B, Robin B, John B, Julia B, Robby E, Ethan F, Jesse G, Natalie G, Steven H, Abby H, Rachel H, Anna O, Michael O, Cameron S, Katie S, Tiffany T, Becca Z, David Z, Robin Henderson, Ryan Williams, Katie Castle, Laura Watts, and Matt Acton.

(Student last names removed per our privacy policy)