From Skepticism to Spirit-Led Service: How the Northwood Campus Is Changing Lives

I'm sitting in the parking lot of Northwood Community Center in High Point, NC at 7:30 AM at the request of my wife, Gale.  I had some time to think about what has happened over the last couple years here.  These are my thoughts.

When Covenant Church United Methodist was first approached by the Conference about the Northwood Community Center, there were a lot of questions, and rightfully so.

What would we do with a building from a church that had closed?
Could we afford the cost of upkeep?
Would anyone even come?

It wasn’t an easy “yes.” There were doubts, concerns, and plenty of conversations. But there was also something more, a stirring of the Holy Spirit and a vision for what could be. Some saw potential where others saw a problem. And through prayer, planning, and a whole lot of faith, we stepped forward.

Now, I sit here at 7:30 in the morning, watching the front doors swing open as children stream in for Operation Excel. On Monday evenings, the building is alive with the buzz of the Food Pantry, the Clothing Closet, and our Community Meal. Every week, every month, more and more people are being served, not just with food or clothes, but with dignity, hope, and the love of Christ.

We’re now reaching more people through this outreach than anything we’ve done before.

This wasn’t just a good idea, it was God’s idea. A vision placed in the hearts of a few, confirmed by the Spirit, and brought to life by the hands and hearts of many.  Church members rolled up their sleeves. Community partners stepped in, and together, we’ve transformed a shuttered building into a hub of compassion and connection.

Northwood is no longer a place of uncertainty — it’s a place of ministry.

We don’t have all the answers. We’re still figuring things out as we go. But we do know this: when we follow the Spirit’s leading, lives get changed,  including our own.

Let’s keep going. The work is just getting started.

Mike

If you haven’t visited the Northwood Campus recently, come see what God is doing. Better yet — join in.