The Wesley Luther Campus Ministry at UNCG has a weekend retreat each semester. We recently went to Black Mountain for a wonderful and spirit-filled time together. The retreat went off without a hitch, and we left early Sunday morning to get students back to Greensboro for jobs and schoolwork.
We always carpool on our retreats, and I noticed that my van was starting to smell of burning oil just outside Conover on I-40. I pulled over at the next exit, which was Fairgrove Church Road. I parked at a gas station, and we transferred the students who needed to be back first to another car to continue on their way back home. Five students remained with me. It's not easy to find a mechanic on a Sunday, so I decided to walk across the road to Fairgrove UMC for assistance. They were in Sunday School, but people immediately came to our rescue. The students were invited to relax in the church, while Jeff Sigmon of the church spent the next hour helping me locate a repair shop that was open.
We didn't know how long I would be in Hickory, waiting on the repair. Jack and Shirley Sigmon volunteered to take the remaining students in the church van to Greensboro. Not only did they spend 3 hours on I-40 that day, they also insisted on buying lunch for the students. As the students have reflected about the retreat, the ones who spent time with Fairgrove UMC have said it was the highlight of the weekend and that the others missed out! They enjoyed making new friends, and will always remember the generosity of this wonderful church.
I did make it home that evening with a repaired van, and very grateful for people in our church who truly care for our college students.
posted by Amy Rio-Anderson, Campus Minister, Wesley Luther at UNCG
