Interview with Brad Hillebrand, Delbarton Work Projects staff 2008

WWhat was one community member or ministry that impacted you and why?

I would have to say Bill Chaffin, the town, “do it all” guy.  It just amazed me to see a man so Christ-like who wouldn’t claim that he’s a Christian.  I saw so much Jesus in him that it was unreal.  I was challenged because I really struggled with his motivation to act the way he did and to be so selfless in his actions.  I am so glad I got to meet him, and he’s had a big impact on reminding me of the calling to serve instead of to be served.

 

Interview with Sarah Dentlinger, Mon Valley Program Staff 2008

1.)    What is one community member or ministry that impacted you and why?

 

I was most impacted by Jason at Highland Manor.  Although his job was neverending and many times thankless,     he truly cared about making Highland Manor a better place and keeping it safe for the children who lived there and our volunteers.  His positive attitude and hard efforts in the face of adversary taught me that your surrounding and job do not have to determine how you treat others; only you decide that…and I can’t wait to see him in a week!  (Interviewer’s Note: Sarah is leading a group of students from Wartburg College on a spring break trip to Mon Valley in March!)

2.)    What is one characteristic that makes your community stand out from the rest?

      Monessen has great need balanced by great hope and promise, held especially by the young people who wish to change their community (like Deandrae).

3.)    How did you YW summer impact your school year (or working year)?

 

This past year, I was much more aware of events happening outside my personal world.  I have kept up on news in Monessen, and the process has also led me to checking up regularly on other communities I have visited and care about, such as East St. Louis.  We don’t have to be a world apart from events going on in other places if we choose not to be.

 

4.)    Have you read any good books or articles on social justice or missions lately? Any Bible passages that stood out to you?

 

As always, I would recommend The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne.  I have also recently rediscovered one of my favorite Mother Teresa quotes, “We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.  It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into doing it.”  I realize that sometimes it’s the smallest of gestures performed out of love that touch people the most.

Isaiah 61:1

1 Thessalonians 5:14-22

Mark 9:33-37

Among others…

 

Kirk Tate, Delbarton Program Staff 2008

I want to spend a few minutes talking about Delbarton, West Virginia and why the community of Delbarton sticks out in my mind. This past summer was my second summer serving with Youthworks.  I entered Delbarton very broken, bitter, and empty on the inside but desiring for God to show me something real, true, and to build relationships in my heart that would set me ablaze. I learned very quickly that the small and quaint little town of Delbarton, WV was not much different than I was at all. Upon entering into town, I noticed that the streets were emptied, buildings were crumbling, the mountains around seeming to suffocate this small town of its own life. It was eery to see the resemblance of that state to my own personal life; leaving a church of nearly 100 youth suddenly, and embarking upon a summer of unknowns and unanswered questions. Veins that once ran full of energetic blood for ministry were empty and aching. The walls of ambition and dreams were closing in around me. I felt hopeless and lifeless-in a sense, dead. Yet, as I stood looking up into the sky in the middle of this quaint little town, I saw something quite beautiful-a sky that merely our God-Creator-could paint. Over the course of the summer I learned something about Delbarton, WV-it was hardly dead. Though the streets had fewer parties, and less traffic flowed its way down Main Street, the hearts and lives of the individuals of Delbarton, West Virginia restored a passion within me to love and serve. For any Youth Ministry searching for a place to experience love and the reassurance of hope-Delbarton, West Virginia is the place for you!

-Kirk Tate, Delbarton, WV 2008