Volunteer Spotlight: W.D. Feeney
'I enjoy using my gifts to promote the kingdom and share what God is doing at CCC'
By Liza Welch
He’s a teacher. He’s certified in special education. He’s in a wheelchair. And he’s one of CCC’s most active volunteers.
Meet W.D. Feeney, a young man whose passion is serving others — particularly children, teens and young adults — through education and social media outreach.
“After I graduated from Columbus State University in 2013, I was skeptical that I’d find a Christian community I could identify with like our campus ministry, Cougars for Christ,” W.D. shared. “But then a few people within the campus ministry recommended Christ Community Church. After praying and visiting for a month, I made the decision that CCC was where I wanted to continue growing in my faith, by becoming a member of a local church.”
Today, W.D. serves in three CCC ministries: The Bridge CREW (5th and 6th grade students), Student Ministries (6th-12th grade students) and Arise Young Adult Ministries (ages 18-30).
“When I first came to CCC, I didn’t think the church really needed more volunteers; it’s such a large church,” W.D. said. “But then I took the Gifted to Serve class, and I found areas where the church needed volunteers, and where I could use my gifts and really get plugged in.”
The Bridge CREW
W.D. began serving in the Bridge CREW in the fall of 2013. The next year, he felt God leading him to step up and do more. After praying about it and talking with the director of Student Ministries, W.D. became the team lead for the Bridge CREW.
“The Bridge is really important because it’s that transition time between Kingdom Kids and Student Ministries (Youth),” W.D. said. “It’s a crucial time in a kid’s life, when they’re preparing for the challenges they’ll face in middle and high school.”
(If you’re interested in volunteering on the Bridge CREW, email W.D. at feeney.william@gmail.com.)
Student Ministries: Middle and High School
During the summer of 2016, W.D. began volunteering on Wednesday nights in the Student Ministries for high schoolers. He helps with technology and creates graphics to promote youth group activities. W.D. also manages both the Instagram account and the Facebook group for CCC’s Student Ministries.
“I was asked to help with their social media presence,” W.D. said. “I enjoy being able to take things I’m interested in — like technology and social media — and use those gifts to promote the kingdom and share what God is doing at CCC.”
In addition, W.D. also facilitates small group discussions on Wednesday nights. Typically that involves the teens huddling up in groups of five or six to discuss that evening’s message.
“I remember this one night, the topic was bearing one another’s burdens,” W.D. shared. “There was a student who was sharing her burdens, some pretty heavy stuff, especially for someone her age. What really cemented this in my memory, though, was what happened a few weeks later. This girl’s mom, who I’d never met before, came up to me on Sunday and said her daughter told her about that night, and how that small group session really impacted her and helped her. Now that’s really why we serve — to impact lives.”
Arise Young Adult Ministries
W.D. also uses his technical skills and social media acumen to serve in Arise. Plus, he volunteers on the Arise leadership team and helps coordinate Arise gatherings, which take place every other Friday evening.
“Arise is where I first became truly plugged in at CCC,” W.D. said. “This is a great group of young adults who believe in community, and I enjoy serving here.”
W.D. also is considering another ministry in which to serve — on the Gifted to Serve team itself. “I can’t say enough good things about Gifted to Serve,” he said. “It truly helps you find areas where you can serve while doing things you enjoy.”
He’s a teacher. He’s certified in special education. He’s in a wheelchair. And he’s one of CCC’s most active volunteers.
Meet W.D. Feeney, a young man whose passion is serving others — particularly children, teens and young adults — through education and social media outreach.
“After I graduated from Columbus State University in 2013, I was skeptical that I’d find a Christian community I could identify with like our campus ministry, Cougars for Christ,” W.D. shared. “But then a few people within the campus ministry recommended Christ Community Church. After praying and visiting for a month, I made the decision that CCC was where I wanted to continue growing in my faith, by becoming a member of a local church.”
Today, W.D. serves in three CCC ministries: The Bridge CREW (5th and 6th grade students), Student Ministries (6th-12th grade students) and Arise Young Adult Ministries (ages 18-30).
“When I first came to CCC, I didn’t think the church really needed more volunteers; it’s such a large church,” W.D. said. “But then I took the Gifted to Serve class, and I found areas where the church needed volunteers, and where I could use my gifts and really get plugged in.”
The Bridge CREW
W.D. began serving in the Bridge CREW in the fall of 2013. The next year, he felt God leading him to step up and do more. After praying about it and talking with the director of Student Ministries, W.D. became the team lead for the Bridge CREW.
“The Bridge is really important because it’s that transition time between Kingdom Kids and Student Ministries (Youth),” W.D. said. “It’s a crucial time in a kid’s life, when they’re preparing for the challenges they’ll face in middle and high school.”
(If you’re interested in volunteering on the Bridge CREW, email W.D. at feeney.william@gmail.com.)
Student Ministries: Middle and High School
During the summer of 2016, W.D. began volunteering on Wednesday nights in the Student Ministries for high schoolers. He helps with technology and creates graphics to promote youth group activities. W.D. also manages both the Instagram account and the Facebook group for CCC’s Student Ministries.
“I was asked to help with their social media presence,” W.D. said. “I enjoy being able to take things I’m interested in — like technology and social media — and use those gifts to promote the kingdom and share what God is doing at CCC.”
In addition, W.D. also facilitates small group discussions on Wednesday nights. Typically that involves the teens huddling up in groups of five or six to discuss that evening’s message.
“I remember this one night, the topic was bearing one another’s burdens,” W.D. shared. “There was a student who was sharing her burdens, some pretty heavy stuff, especially for someone her age. What really cemented this in my memory, though, was what happened a few weeks later. This girl’s mom, who I’d never met before, came up to me on Sunday and said her daughter told her about that night, and how that small group session really impacted her and helped her. Now that’s really why we serve — to impact lives.”
Arise Young Adult Ministries
W.D. also uses his technical skills and social media acumen to serve in Arise. Plus, he volunteers on the Arise leadership team and helps coordinate Arise gatherings, which take place every other Friday evening.
“Arise is where I first became truly plugged in at CCC,” W.D. said. “This is a great group of young adults who believe in community, and I enjoy serving here.”
W.D. also is considering another ministry in which to serve — on the Gifted to Serve team itself. “I can’t say enough good things about Gifted to Serve,” he said. “It truly helps you find areas where you can serve while doing things you enjoy.”
Want to get involved as a volunteer at CCC? Take our Gifted to Serve class (details and dates here) to learn how God has uniquely shaped you for service. If you already know how you're gifted and what you want to do, jump right in - contact Anja Staten (anja@ccclive.org) for next steps.