Hi. My name is Lauren Smoak, and I am one of the lucky interns serving at Charleston Youth Mission. I have lived in Charleston for the past ten years, and it is such a blessing to be able to share my city with youth from near and far. It’s over halfway through the summer now, and one theme in particular
has been stuck on my mind and heart: bridges.
​

Every Tuesday I take my team to Northbridge Park for lunch. If you aren’t familiar with the place,
it is a park under a bridge with lovely views, unique shells, and cute fiddler crabs. While it is a beautiful
picnic spot, that's not the only reason we visit. About halfway through our lunch I gather everyone’s
attention and hop up on my soapbox for the day. I’ll give you a shortened version of my speech now:
Northbridge separates North Charleston from West Ashley. Most of our service for the week is
centered in North Charleston, where the group stays, working with organizations like Lowcountry Food
Bank, Neighbors Together, Lowcountry Orphan Relief, and Lowcountry Blessing Box.

What is the reason for that? Why are there so many thriving nonprofits in North Charleston? The answer is because that is the area that experiences the most need. We discuss reasons for this: food deserts, lack of jobs, poor transportation, limited healthcare, generational poverty, etc. But this shouldn't be that big of a problem, right? Maybe North Charleston is a tough place to live, but at least the people there can branch out to the bountiful resources the rest of Charleston has to offer. I wish that were the case. Northbridge was remodeled in 1980. To accommodate Charleston’s ever-growing population, the bike line was replaced with an extra lane of traffic. More recently, the speed limit was raised from 45mph to 50mph to allow smoother traffic flow. Northbridge Park itself was established as an official city park in 2014, providing a fun spot for the community to congregate. This all sounds great, right? Fantastic improvements to the community and infrastructure! Not quite.

That bike lane was the only available access for people without cars to travel safely and quickly
from North Charleston to West Ashley. In the past ten years there have been four fatalities and six serious injuries from people trying to cross the bridge on the two-foot-wide, heavily spiked median running between six lanes of traffic. Furthermore, want to know a fun fact about speed limits? According to South Carolina law, it is illegal and dangerous for pedestrians to walk on roadways with a speed limit of 50 mph or higher. They can potentially receive a ticket or citation for violating this rule. Want to know another fun fact? When a place is declared an official city park it has to be patrolled. This means, just hypothetically speaking of course, that if a person got trapped on one side of a dangerous bridge they couldn’t even legally sleep under it because it is part of a city park.

Here’s the real kicker: “Northbridge,” as it is called by the folks in West Ashley, is actually named
Cosgrove Bridge. It’s only north relative to people on their side of the bridge... the “good” side... the side
with a voice. Thankfully, there is an organization that sees and advocates for the voiceless in this
situation. “Better NorthBridge” is working to build a standalone bike/pedestrian bridge. It may take a few
years, but change is on the horizon. I am now stepping off my soapbox.

P.S. I would also like to share that I live in West Ashley. I will fully admit to the privileged life I live. It’s not
something to feel guilty about, but I encourage people with privilege to use their voice to advocate for the voiceless. I live on a mountain and it's my responsibility to lift up those in the valley. It's one thing to serve. I love seeing these kids work passionately to help their neighbors.

     It isn’t possible for any child of God to be worthless. A fact often forgotten in society as material
wealth is viewed as the solo indicator of value. This false narrative that is perpetuated in so many
facets of life is corrected at Haywood Street Congregation. The work site I have the privilege of
spending time at this summer is a church that is called to serve those living on the margins. It
was founded by Rev. Brian Combs who took the time to listen to the voices often silenced and
“what he heard was, ‘Offer me a congregation of absurd grace, a meal of scandalous abundance, a
kingdom glance of heaven on earth.’”
     As a 19-year-old girl, I find that I cannot offer my community all the many things I wish I could,
however, I find Ruth 1 has helped me to open my eyes to the abundance of comfort I can offer by
giving my time every week.
     In Ruth’s story, her mother-in-law, Naomi, has lost both her sons and her husband. Aside from
grieving the loss of her family, Naomi must also confront having nothing of value to offer society - as
a woman with no attachment to a man wasn’t worth much. Ruth feels alone and that God is not with
her. As she must journey to Bethlehem, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to leave her because she
can’t offer them anything: “Turn back my daughters. Go. I am too old for a husband.” Despite
Naomi’s wish for her daughters-in-law to leave her, Ruth does not. Ruth says, “Do not urge me to
abandon you, to turn back from following you. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay I will
stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”
     Naomi feels worthless because of what the world around her deems valuable. Ruth can’t change
society in this moment or how Naomi feels God has betrayed her or Naomi’s grief. Ruth proves that it
isn’t giving a material good or saying the right thing that will change someone's perspective. It’s
simply sticking around long enough to show someone that they aren’t alone in their most challenging
moment that can keep them going.
     At Haywood Street, I have shared meals with folks similar to me and so very different to me. I have had days when I feel worthless as I know many folks living on the margins have felt as well. But every day I show up to Haywood Street to participate in that community, I am reminding myself and my neighbors we are all God’s child. The unconditional worth and value all of us hold.

​“But that is not the way you learned Christ!- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manager of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” Ephesians 4:20-24
 
Hi! My name is Sophie deMaine, and I have been so blessed to spend a summer working at Charleston Youth Mission. I’m a South Carolina native and was no stranger to Charleston before this summer, but I’ve loved spending more time getting to know this city and her people throughout the summer.
            Charleston is often referred to as the “Holy City”. This is because of its overwhelming number of churches and because of the diversity of religious traditions present within those churches. When it was founded in 1670, the city made a law that prohibited buildings from being constructed taller than any church steeples. Most would say that these laws were made to keep God at the center of life in the city. While this is true, it is difficult to ignore the fact that at the same time these laws were being created, 40% of all of the people who were enslaved in America were arriving at Gadsden's Wharf, just a few blocks from the city’s center. Charleston has a complex and nuanced history, one that is often overlooked in favor of promoting tourism and an ideal of a beautiful, polished South.
            The staff at CYM often struggle to balance these two seemingly opposing sides of Charleston, particularly when we are faced with the immense need in this city. It can often feel like the city government is complacent, or even malicious, when it comes to the overwhelming need of the vulnerable and impoverished in Charleston. Because of this, doing work in this city can feel like a losing battle when faced with a lack of support from the government. I have certainly questioned the nickname of the “Holy City”, as a city that actively works to push God’s people out feels anything but holy.
            It wasn’t until recently that I began to understand the name in a new light. Having the opportunity to work with new youth each week lends itself to new conversations each week. These youth, many of whom have never been to Charleston before, are so excited to spend time working and learning in a new place. They come with fresh eyes and eager hearts, bringing new life to this old city. It is such a joy to watch them participate in the good work the agencies we partner with are doing in the Lowcountry. They are able to work at different worksites each day, meet different people each day, and grow in their understanding of the calling each of us has from the Lord. These youth, through their willingness to engage in tough conversations, are able to see God in unexpected places, from North Charleston to Wadmalaw Island. They find the transformational power of Christ’s redeeming love at work no matter where we go, and do not fail to recognize it.
            It is through this work and these conversations that have formed a different picture of Charleston in my heart. It may not be the perfect city. There is certainly more work to be done. But I rest easy knowing that the people I have met this summer are dedicated to casting off their old selves and donning their new ones. Just as we are redeemed only by the blood of Christ, only the work of Christ can renew what has been broken. Through the work of the youth, agencies, and the Lord Almighty, the Holy City is putting on a new self, created in true righteousness and holiness.