Gretchen Allie and Tiffany Brown spend time with children at Carver apartments.
One7 Ministries hosts Thanksgiving dinner for children at Carver Apartments.
Photos Courtesy of Gretchen Allie
By: Jennica Lyons Norman
People of all ages and backgrounds are coming together through One7 Ministries at Carver Apartments in downtown Johnson City.
One7 Ministries is an outreach that began at Milligan last year in an effort to build relationships between local college students and inner-city youth. One7 Ministries originated in Charlotte, N.C., in 2007.
Gretchen Allie, a junior public relations and digital media major, is the leader at Milligan and, with 25 other students from Milligan and ETSU, works with kids throughout the week.
“One7 is different from other ministries because it’s not a program,” Allie said. “The purpose of One7 is to build relationships and walk alongside kids in every aspect of their lives while influencing them to follow Christ.”
Oscar Sarmiento, a freshman Bible major from Pelham, Ala., has helped with One7 Ministries since last March.
Sarmiento traveled to Charlotte last summer and has continued his involvement with One7 at Milligan.
“I love the fact that we can form a relationship with them and can present to them the undying love of God,” Sarmiento said.
It was through One7 Ministries that Sarmiento realized his calling to youth ministry.
“It’s about creating disciples that will in turn create more disciples – that’s our main goal in life and our walk with God,” Sarmiento added.
One7 interacts with 20 to 30 kids during the week. Activities range from picking them up to take them to church on Sunday mornings to hanging out with them Sunday afternoons in their apartments or on the Carver playground.
“One7 Ministries is very relationally based, not programmed based,” Allie said. “A lot of what we do is spend time and talk to them.”
One7 Ministries is always looking to add to their team.
“I really hope students will get involved,” said Sarmiento. “Not just anyone, but someone who cares with their whole heart about furthering God’s kingdom through children.”
For more information on One7, email Gretchen Allie at johnsoncity@one7.org.
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