Colorado City, AZ – A powerful display of youthful dedication and community support has uplifted the Short Creek area this week, as a large group of high school students and faculty from New Jersey spent their annual mission trip serving the twin towns of Hildale and Colorado City.
A team of 32 high school students and 8 faculty chaperones from The King’s Christian School in Cherry Hill, NJ, partnered with the Short Creek Dream Center to lend a helping hand on vital community projects. The private Christian school chose the Short Creek community for their yearly mission trip after hearing about the Dream Center’s extensive ministry.
Bart Welsh, representing the visiting group, highlighted the students’ commitment to meaningful work. “We began work on Tuesday with clearing brush and weeds at Cottonwood Park,” Welsh said. The group then moved their focus on Wednesday to a major clean-up effort, clearing weeds and brush along both sides of Central Street.
By Thursday, their mission shifted to direct community support, assisting local residents with various projects around their homes. This blend of public works and individual aid exemplifies the comprehensive community outreach the Short Creek Dream Center facilitates.
A Mission of Grace and Gratitude
Welsh noted the incredibly warm welcome the group received from the Short Creek residents. “We’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to help with your beautiful town. Everyone we’ve interacted with has been gracious, kind and welcoming,” he shared.
For the students, the trip was driven by a powerful spiritual conviction. “Our students are eager to help people in ways that show our love for Jesus by serving in a sacrificial way as He did for us,” Welsh explained. “He’s given us so much grace and mercy, so we want to give in that same way to others.”
The Short Creek Dream Center, which provides life recovery, and food resources in the community, often relies on such volunteer groups to execute its wide array of outreach and beautification projects. The recent efforts by The King’s Christian School have visibly contributed to the ongoing transformation and healing in the area.
As the New Jersey group concludes their work, they depart with a heartfelt promise. “We hope to come back to your lovely town and hope the wonderful people here know we care for them from the short time we spent here,” Welsh concluded, the positive, lasting bond forged by their week of service.
