Mission Upstate

We’re incredibly excited about Mission Upstate. It’s a yearly opportunity to bless our neighborhood and spend some time with one of our partner churches. 

Mission Upstate is a ministry of Grace Church who supports Griggs. Each summer, Grace sends upwards of 80 students into Poe Mill over the span of 3 weeks. During these 3 weeks students engage in service projects each morning and run a camp for neighborhood kids in the afternoon. 

The service projects usually include yard work, trash-pick up, painting, and food distribution at Mana Ministry. 

The kids camp is packed with kids from Poe Mill, but any kids from the area are welcome to attend. The Poe Mill kids camp runs from 12-3:30. Lunch is provided. The students from Grace run games, crafts, snacks, and worship each afternoon. 

Griggs summer interns are always involved. And the service projects that get done really help us strengthen our relationships in the neighborhood. It’s a win for everyone involved. 

One story stood out to me from the mission trips. One week, a group of students picked up trash in an alleyway known for its homeless population. While they were working, they met a homeless gentleman named Calvin and started up a conversation with him. They all circled up and prayed for him and it was a great moment. 

But after another hour of picking up trash, he could tell that they were getting tired. So this time HE circled THEM up and HE prayed for THEM. This was a pivotal moment for some of the students. They got a glimpse into the kingdom of God and how it’s made up of people from all different backgrounds, statuses, and walks of life. They said it was a moment they’d never forget.