Written by Kristin Arroyo | Content & Communications Coordinator
What does joy sound like?
If you ask 10 people, you’ll probably get 10 different answers. But last Thursday night for two hours in Port Jervis, NY, joy was bouncing balls, squeaky sneakers, excited high-fives, and the playful shouts of children.
In partnership with Tri-State Christian Center, 12th Rock Sports hosted a popup community event led by 27 visiting Messiah University students and their coaches. Though the event had just been announced several days prior, eager local families showed up in full force. Neighbors invited neighbors. Foster and adoptive families spread the word. Several friends of 12th Rock from the special needs community joined in on the fun, too!
“We are all part of the Track & Field Team,” said Samantha, a veteran long distance runner. “This is our annual Spring Break Service Trip – and my second time serving here with 12th Rock!”
But what most didn’t know is that this night almost didn’t happen – in fact, this year the Messiah service trip was planned for North Carolina. But just days before their departure, plans changed, and they were left asking “Where can we serve that will make a real impact on such short notice?”
“We were blessed to work with these college athletes for trips in 2024 and 2025,” said Steve Hoernig, 12th Rock’s Volunteer & Mission Team Coordinator. “So when they approached us two weeks ago with their need, we were honored to host them again….We may have been surprised, but we knew the Lord was not!”
Though Samantha was thrilled to be back – even getting to reconnect with a handful of children who remembered her and her friends from last year – she also got real about having struggled with her initial decision to participate in 2025.
“My family lives in Washingtonville [about 30 minutes away],” she explained. “It felt weird because the people I had to ask to contribute [financially] to my mission trip were living here also…But God really changed my heart when I said ‘yes’. And this time, I was really excited to get to come back and serve this community that is so close to mine!”
Earlier in the week, she and her teammates spent time picking up trash in Harrisburg, PA, and helping out at the Bethesda Mission’s after school center. On Thursday morning, they participated in manual labor projects at the 12th Rock campus, Tri-State Christian Center, and Eddy Farm. Friday, they all came back together to finish building a bridge for the cross country meets Eddy Farm plans to host this Fall and attend a worship night for young adults hosted by Echo Grace Church.
But as 35 kids ranging from elementary to high school ages trickled into the gymnasium that night, the older athletes’ focus was clear. Over the next two hours, they invested in the confidence and character of their younger counterparts, aiming to make an eternal impact by integrating faith with competition.
Mid-session, the students were called to center court for a group huddle. Megan from the Messiah team shared a personal devotional, recalling details of past travels and her own interrupted plans. “I could have gone to Europe [for Spring Break] but my best friend was praying for me…and I was just like ‘OK, I think I need to do this trip instead’…because God has good plans for my life.”
When asked what they’d learned, one elementary student raised her hand, boldly declaring “Trust in God because He has a plan for you!” A young boy said, “Make sure you pray before everything to see if God wants you to do it.” Everyone listening was beginning to understand that sometimes God interrupts our plans to give us His even better ones!
Although winners were celebrated briefly at the end of the night, it was clear that in true 12th Rock form, achievement wasn’t the focus here. The accidentally-skipped cones in the relay race were overlooked. Jump rope missteps were laughed off. Basketballs that bounced wildly off the backboard were easily forgotten. Instead, everyone received a snack, a craft, a whole lot of smiles, and a multi-faceted lesson in trust.
And as the proud – and tired – young athletes left the gym in an impromptu closing ceremony, the Messiah team created a makeshift player exit tunnel with their arms. Amid their cheers and “whoop-whoops”, joy spilled out through the lobby and into the chilly night air.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!… For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” – Psalm 100:2,5
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9