The Ripple Effect of a Church Invested in its People
My name is Sofia Bartholomew. Over the past several weeks, you have been hearing from a variety of members as they share their connections to this church; I stand before you this morning as a younger representation of this congregation.
I spent all four years of high school involved in the youth group here at Myers Park Covenant, a staple of my social life during those years. The tight-knit community we held in the youth group of this church saw me all the way through my senior year; I remember delivering my senior speech alongside my peers at this very lectern during our annual Youth Sunday service several years ago. Also during high school, I became involved in our environmental justice MOJO group, where I dove into our community gardening projects and climate education initiatives. Some of you may recognize me from our annual Creation Justice Sunday services, in which I have also played a part over the past several years.
Here at Myers Park Covenant, I found a community of like-minded folks who have significantly influenced the ways in which I engage in the environmental issues I care about. These opportunities have grounded me not only in a community within this church but a community beyond these halls, working toward environmental and food justice within this city. These are just a few of the areas that Myers Park Covenant Church continues to provide important momentum and positive impact on within the wider community. Today, I continue to push for environmental advocacy just across the street at Queens, where I am studying conservation biology, creative writing, and history, and leading a number of sustainability and community gardening initiatives that often collaborate with those of this church. The path I’ve chosen to take in my college years is a direct result of the involvement I have had the privilege to engage in at this church over the years.
As we step into a new chapter of this church’s history, I encourage all of us to keep these community-wide impacts at the forefront of our philosophy as a church. Investing in this church community is an investment that goes far beyond the walls of this campus, effecting significant positive change in the community around us. In a time where civic and community engagement is increasingly critical, I remind us all that this church is an important avenue for community advocacy and justice and always has been. Please consider investing your time, energy, and resources into our community, both here and in Charlotte more broadly. So please—go out, get involved, and most importantly, give.