by Bevin Hicks
For 36 years, Trinity Methodist Church’s Weekend of the Cross has been a moving tradition in Ruston. Every summer, hundreds of youth and adults come together with a purpose: to be the hands and feet of Christ through serving others. The name says it all: Christians Reaching Out in the Savior’s Service.
One of the sweetest parts of the weekend belongs to the youngest servants.
The Weekend of the Cross Jr. Crew, led by our incredible Children’s Ministry volunteers, gives children the opportunity to learn that no one is too young to make a difference. Through simple acts of kindness, they discover what it means to serve others with joyful hearts.
This year’s Jr. Crew was nothing short of inspiring.
Throughout the weekend, the children packed comfort bags for children entering foster care, shopped for gifts for Ruston Community Christmas’s Christmas in July program, and delivered popsicles around our community to spread a little joy. Every project was a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Friday’s lemonade stand in Downtown Ruston. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, these young servants raised more than $1,300 to purchase gifts for Ruston Community Christmas in just a couple of hours.
What an incredible testament to the heart of Ruston.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a cup of lemonade, offered words of encouragement, or simply supported these children as they learned the joy of giving. A special thank you to The Children’s Shoppe for graciously allowing us to set up in front of their store and to Mayor Ronny Walker for stopping by to cheer on the kids. The team also wanted to extend a thank you to the wonderful employees at our local Five Below, who patiently welcomed more than 25 excited children as they shopped for gifts to bless local families this Christmas.
None of this would be possible without the amazing adults who poured their time and energy into making the weekend so meaningful. Abbey Bamburg, Cindy Brantly, Katey Day, Lindsay Heard, Jessica Hill, Ashley King, Abby Mandrell, and LeAnn Waldroup created an experience that taught this group of children what serving others looks like, and they loved every minute of it. Their leadership is planting seeds of compassion that will grow for years to come and continue to serve our community.
Every child who participated was reminded that serving doesn’t require a certain age. It simply requires a willing heart.
Weekend of the Cross has been changing lives for generations, and seeing the next generation embrace its mission gives us great hope for the future.
To everyone who supported the Jr. Crew this weekend by buying a cup of lemonade, it was more than lemonade. You are helping teach our children that serving others isn’t just something we talk about in Ruston; it’s something we do.
Because when little hands serve with big hearts, extraordinary things are possible.
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