YouthWorks Interview with Site Director:  Eric Darling
Interviewed and written by:  Mary McAdams
2BC Youth Group Member - 2008
 

Well, hello Second Baptist Church and honored guests to the 2BC website. First of all, I’d like to say why I’m writing this. I’m Mary McAdams and I was asked by a good friend, Steve to write about our youth events. Coming from a “Youthie,” you can see what the youth kids at our church are doing and what is basically going on with us. Now, this month’s Pew Review did tell us who these people are, and what they like to do as hobbies, and where they came from. But why are they here? I wanted to know and I was asked to talk to, interview, the leader of YouthWorks in Calais. I went into the church on a Wednesday and interviewed Mr. Eric Darling. After getting Sally to stop talking to him, I got a chance to sit down with him and talk for a few minutes until my own cell phone interrupted me. =] But I did get all my questions asked and then answered.

Mary: “Who are you?” 

Eric: “My name is Eric Darling, I am the Site Director at YouthWorks. I am a servant of God. I am a leader. I don’t know, a college student. I’m going in depth more than you probably wanted.”

He really didn’t.
I really can’t stand it when I interview people and they give me one word answers
and just a, “yeah.” So, thumbs up to Eric. Sorry, back to the interview…

Mary: “No, you’re good.”

Eric: “But that is who I am. A lot of things, but right now my role here is Site Director at YouthWorks.”

Mary: “And what exactly do you do?”

Eric: “Everything. I manage finances. I manage my three staff that has their own specific roles. Whether it be kids club or work projects and the program. Basically running the everyday logistics of a day at YouthWorks.”

Mary: “So, what is a typical day at YouthWorks? If there is a typical day.”

Eric: “There is a typical day and a typical day is not a typical day, but the schedule is its very rigorous, we have to shower in the morning before the day starts at Calais High School. We start at 6:30. The breakfast crew starts up.”

By the way, 6:30 AM is insane!!!  Sorry, Just a side note. =]
I really like to interrupt myself.  Sorry, back to the story.

Eric (continued.): “The rest of them will shower at 7:00. Breakfast starts at 7:45 and goes until 8:30. At 8:30 we start cleaning up the building, the bathrooms, the tables taking out the trash and stuff like that. At 9:00 devos, one of my staff, including myself each day will share a little bit, kind of a little quick message then we will take about half an hour for personal devotions. Reading the book that YouthWorks has picked out. And then after devotions we have ministry sites, that are when we go out into the community, and we help out with projects. For about five to seven hours a day, then we come back and have dinner and adult leader meeting which is where all the adult leaders to check in to see if everything is going well and according to plan. Then we have an evening activity, be it going to the concerts in the park…”

Mary: “What are your goals for YouthWorks this year?”

Eric: “This is kind of a two part goal, just continuing the difference that YouthWorks has made and keep the ‘presence’ here. And being a positive influence we want to help the community, even economically, we have 70 kids come every week. The second part is hoping these kids see a different side of ministry. Sometimes these kids go to New Orleans and see the disaster, but here it’s more like a community that isn’t horrible but its an everyday town and its harder to see the need in this town. Helping them to see that and promoting relationships between the other groups that come together. It’s promoting relationship building because these people come from all over and are coming to interact with each other.”

Mary: “What have you achieved so far here in Calais?”

Eric: “We’ve… I really feel like we’ve been making a positive difference here just by our presence. We have positive energy and showing the community the love of Christ through our decision to serve and to represent that decision. They give up part of their summer for this. Like planting flowers in the little boat at the Triangle Park. It’s just a good sign that YouthWorks is here and we’re ready to help. The phone has been ringing off the hook, people asking us to help. It’s a great place here.”

Mary: “Do you like it here? Life at 2BC?”

Eric: “Oh yeah. I love it. I love the community and the people. From Billy Gibson to Sally.”

Doesn’t everyone just LOVE Sally? =]

Oh… right. Sorry.

Eric: “The small town environment I absolutely love.”

THEN my phone rang… Then I made him listen to Mason Jennings for a second.

BUT THEN…back to the interview.

Eric: “We don’t sleep a lot. Saturday is our day off, and then we get up Sunday and go to church, then start preparing for the new crowd.”

Mary: “What are the reasons for the kids giving up their summer?”

Eric: “There are a lot of reasons. Either they want to get away, take a trip. Their church is doing this or they just want to get away from parents. Then there is the attitude of wanting to serve and helping community. The attitude reflects how the week goes. Sometimes its like the youth wants to be on vacation. We like the Can-do attitudes.”

Mary: “What made you want to be a leader?”

Eric: “Well, I was looking for something new and I’m going into business and I was looking for an internship. I wanted to do something fun that I may not be able to do again. I just applied at YouthWorks and they offered me Site Director and I immediately took it. I saw all the responsibility and was a little overwhelmed. But it’s the most exciting and beneficial summer of my life.”

So, after much procrastination, I decided to bite the bullet and finish this up. Eric is an awesome guy and so are all of the other YouthWorks staff. I know we are going to miss them when they leave in a week or so. We wish them well, and pray for them. God blessed Calais with them for the summer and all the youth that came from around the US.