I [heart] Central, pt. 2

From Director of Administration, Serena Wolfe:

 Dear Blog Reader, I know you've been anxiously awaiting the finale of the I [heart] Central blog post. Without further ado, we proudly present our final two honored volunteer(s).

Second Saturdays Team
Bold Community Reachers

Second Saturdays has provided an opportunity for Central to collide with the community in meaningful ways through service projects. Together, the church and community members have worked at food drops, Good Earth Farms and have fostered relationships with individuals at the SEPTA correctional facility. It's been a great experience for our church and for those involved. Here's what volunteers had to say:

But, this service opportunity didn’t come without sacrifice. The Second Saturdays’ coordination team has spent many Thursday nights each month planning out volunteer opportunities, constructing the vision, and has spent much time in prayer. Without their dedication and service, Second Saturdays wouldn’t be possible.

Without the leadership of Drea Osterbur, Didi Chilcotte, Jess Cyders, and Kristen Mazzo,as well as others who have served on the team at various points in time, this ministry would not have gotten off the ground. Thanks for taking a vision and bringing it to life!

Second Saturdays team, you are amazing. Thanks for showing us what it means to boldly love your neighbors. We love you!

Mike and Sharon Noel
Faithful Servants

Central is a place of transition for many people. It's difficult for those who step into our lives and are then called to other places. It's difficult for those of us who watch our friends leave. So, when people are here for more than...oh...ten years, we get really excited.

REALLY excited.

Mike and Sharon Noel have faithfully served in this body for years. They have: hosted small groups, staff meetings and cookouts at their home; served as host family for Central's WOC summer intern, Katie Miller; given generously; served on our leadership board; baked hundreds of treats for our café area...the list goes on and on. They've seen Central at her best and at her worst. And they are still here.

But what really caught our attention when deciding to honor them was the relationships Mike has built with men from the Septa Correctional Facility. Drea, and the second Saturday’s crew began this relationship with SEPTA, and Mike has just run with it.

Mike knows many of the guys' names. He words with them side-by-side. There's not enough room on this blog to get into it all… but there has been a lot of stuff Mike has been doing on the relational end that most people will never see.

Mike and Sharon, you are awesome! Thanks for being faithful, generous servants and for caring about people that Christ cared about. We love you!