We met a guy at a coffee house after praying out a Belize team. A few weeks later he showed up on Monday nights for prayer group and a few months after that he jumped on a plane with us to serve Christ at Kwathu Children’s Home in Zambia. Three months later he quit his job and moved to South Africa for eight months to attend a leadership school through another one of our partner ministries, The Leadership Experience. Sounds unlikely, even a fabricated story, but it happened. A stranger became family.
Cameron Hardy is a tall guy. Most people look up to him, literally. He plays drums with passion and the guitar chilled. Many of our worship gatherings find him helping lead worship and today he’s the charter resident of our first community house, where he hosts game nights. He delivers a food route every month and invests in kids, teenagers and the elderly. He loves Jesus and spends hours studying the Word and preparing lessons, learning how to bring alive the hope of the Gospel.
When a teenager needed a computer for school, he gave his. He helps with furniture pickups and deliveries, moving food boxes and mowing grass. Some nights you may find him helping with the community garden or serving another community member with a house project. He asks businesses to help by donation of tangible extras and secures engagements for missionaries. He shares his last drops of fuel and his favorite books.
Cameron is a friend to all, hanging upside in a hammock or fishing in the middle of the night. He’s the one willing to stay up late stamping envelopes and talking theology or worshipping for hours, even if the people sing off key. He likes leftovers and chocolate milk and he is learning to live on little and share everything. He gives intentionally to love people in a way that ministers to their hearts. He isn’t afraid to laugh at himself or receive constructive criticism.
When you see a white car parked in your driveway or in front of your house, he may have stopped by for dinner. When you see him grab a backpack, he may be hitting the Appalachian trail with another community family. When you see ‘almost gone’ bananas, he’s rescued them for banana bread. When you see a deck of cards, he’s ready to play Nertz and yell “ace out.”
Get to know our brother. He will encourage you and he needs you to encourage him. He will have you singing new songs and watching documentaries. He’s who he is, and we are so much better having him in our lives.