JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 14, 2024 — 51社区 junior Henry Piercey completed a summer internship with YoungLife and Dollywood Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, that he says was life changing.
鈥淭his summer really taught me to actually hand things over to the Lord,鈥� Piercey said. 鈥淭ruly, apart from Christ, I really can鈥檛 do anything, because I鈥檝e tried it before. Anything I try on my own, it crumbles, ultimately.鈥�
Piercey is a Christian ministry and missions major from Jackson, Tennessee, and a member of West Jackson Baptist Church. He spent the summer going through 鈥淒iscovery: God鈥檚 Answers to Our Deepest Questions,鈥� a nine-week discipleship study with Union alumnus Ray Pettigrew, who serves as camp manager for discipleship focus with YoungLife.
Pettigrew said the study focuses on 鈥渨ho is God, who are we and how do we do relationship with him?鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really practical foundational truth series that we sit through,鈥� Pettigrew said. 鈥淎nd then the great thing about it is there's this kind of laboratory experience that goes alongside with it, because we provide a work element.鈥�
For Piercey, that work element was serving in the culinary department at Dollywood Splash Country, where he worked at the park鈥檚 concession stands alongside several college and high school students, many of them international students. Though Piercey said the experience was a challenge, especially when dealing with angry customers, it was rewarding.
鈥淚 had the opportunity to witness day after day to struggling believers, abiding believers and spiritually empty people,鈥� Piercey said. Piercey said he established lasting friendships with his coworkers and was able to plant gospel seeds in their lives.
Pettigrew said he was impressed with Piercey鈥檚 decision at the start of the summer experience to remove some distractions from his life and 鈥渂e present鈥� throughout the program.
鈥淚 just watched him be very intentional about doing the things that were asked of him, in terms of the study and taking it seriously, engaging in community and engaging in dialogue,鈥� Pettigrew said. 鈥淗enry did really well.鈥�