1 minute read
Carolina Point
from Generous Portions
by Young Life
CAROLINA POINT — 2001
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
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In January of 2001, Jim Anthony, a developer of Brevard, North Carolina the Cliff’s Communities, donated 340 acres to Young Life for the purposes of building a Young Life camp. Located on the border of North and South Carolina, Carolina Point fulfills a huge need for camping in the southeastern United States. During the early phases of building the camp, there was a need to have a pool for every kid to enjoy. Everyone would be able to participate in something like a lazy river: middle-schoolers and high-schoolers, including those with special needs. Young Life tried calling businesses all over the country that constructed highend pools, never to get a call returned. Having had no luck at the time, the mission was directed to a man based in Asheville; literally right in the camp’s “neck of the woods!” The idea was shared about building an incredible pool for kids in a place where they would get to hear the gospel. This business owner, Mark, was interested and agreed to meet at the property. After having a tour, Mark was in tears. For years, he had been building large, luxurious resort-style pools for the wealthy. However, it lacked substance, and he longed for more. Now his work would impact the sharing of the good news of Jesus. He agreed to build the pool, and all his services were given to the camp at no cost! Today, Mark is the “go-to guy” for much of the pool-related business in Young Life. Each year he brings his family to Carolina Point and is tremendously impacted by God’s presence there. Similar to how He used Jim’s gift of land, God used Mark’s gifts and abilities to provide for the camp and, in turn, he became blessed by God’s work in and through the mission.
God gifted Mark with a set of skills and positioned him to do great work for this property and, in turn, helped to create a place where every kid is introduced to Jesus. What are the gifts God has put in your life? Where has He positioned you? How are you using those gifts and this position to further His Kingdom?
