By Craig Totty, CBF StudentServe intern
This summer was a meaningful season of growth and learning as I served with Rolesville Baptist Church. From moments of spiritual encouragement to unexpected challenges, I was able to see God at work in both exciting and difficult circumstances. These experiences not only shaped my understanding of ministry but also helped me grow personally and spiritually.
I saw God at work in many ways this summer, but the most prominent example was through our church’s youth group. We had the incredible opportunity to attend Passport Camp at Converse University this year, and it was a truly meaningful experience. Attending as a chaperone was my first time at Passport, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Throughout the week, I saw God moving in our youth group in a way that brought a level of unity I had never seen before. For what felt like the first time in a long time, our group became one cohesive unit and the usual cliques or divisions seemed to disappear, which was powerful to witness.
During that same week, I also saw several of our students step out in faith and overcome anxieties as they helped lead the camp in worship. At Passport, there is a “choice group” called Grace Notes, focused on worshiping God through music. This experience built throughout the week, leading up to the group helping lead two songs and, on the final evening, performing a song they had written together. This stood out to me spiritually because of the way God empowered these students to boldly proclaim His name, setting aside their fears and anxieties.
One challenge I faced this summer was navigating ongoing construction issues at our church due to faulty building work. At one point, part of the sanctuary ceiling collapsed, which created a stressful and uncertain season for our congregation. As a result, we had to move our services into the gymnasium, which served as a temporary solution for a time. However, that situation became even more complicated when the gym’s 20-year-old AC unit failed and needed to be replaced. 
This series of events created both logistical and emotional challenges for our church community. Walking through this experience gave me a deeper understanding of the behind-the-scenes aspects of ministry, especially in areas like fundraising and budgeting. I also learned how difficult—but important—it is to communicate hard news to a congregation with honesty, clarity and care.
While it was a challenging season, it ultimately helped me grow in leadership and adaptability. Looking back, I can see how both the encouraging moments and the challenges worked together to deepen my faith and prepare me for future ministry. Through it all, God remained faithful, teaching me valuable lessons about leadership, trust and perseverance. I am grateful for what I have learned and look forward to continuing to grow as I follow where He leads.