Making Missions a Part of Everyday Life
Although there are many short term opportunities to serve with We Will Go, some people are looking to get even more involved. Ruth Alexander, Director of Internships, explains why the Internship programs at We Will Go were developed. “Living and working at We Will Go is trying to teach individuals how to make missions a part of everyday life beyond just short term volunteering.” We Will Go currently has a long term Internship program for 1 year, a Resident program for 6 months, and a program called Engage Jackson which runs from August 15-December 21, 2021. The Internship and Resident programs both help with our Essential Food program, after school Education program, and our day to day interactions with neighbors. Engage Jackson is a little different with a combination of our regular programs mixed with actual teaching from Wesley Bible Seminary. Rather than coming to serve for a few short hours and then driving home, you get to stay and continue to impact the community.
The desire to stay and help grow the community of downtown Jackson is what inspired our mission statement and what drives the programs. Ruth states, “Our mission statement of ‘We are neighbors willing to engage our community with the love of Christ’ is the heart behind these programs. We want to be consistent in supporting and sharing the love of Christ to those in Jackson.” So many times, we have made sharing the gospel and giving to those in need something that’s convenient for the giver. We give when we’re available or when we feel like it.
Being consistent in the community not only impacts our team members but also affects those in Jackson that we daily help with food, education, and spiritual encouragement. Giving our neighbors the reassurance that there are believers in this city that will be here to support and encourage them has created an environment of dependability. In describing what it means to model what Jesus did when he was on the earth, Ruth spoke more on staying committed and diligent. “Christ calls us to care about those around us and to not quit when it gets hard. It’s important to not only sow into a community but to stay. To continue to come back and maintain those relationships and pray for Jackson.”