The Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC, will host the 2018 World Equestrian Games Sept. 11-23, 2018. Approximately 500,000 people are expected to attend over the two-week period.

It's certainly no secret that the Tryon International Equestrian Center in nearby Tryon, NC, is hosting the the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Equestrian Games (WEG) in September. News and information about this huge international gathering (more than 500,000 people are expected to attend) have been swirling for years as preparations have been made to be ready for so many visitors to this part of our state.
And now local residents will have an opportunity to meet and welcome some of these visitors. The Shelby Mission Camp (SMC), a ministry of Baptists on Mission, located at 302 Sharpton Drive, Shelby, has announced that it will be hosting 200 people per day from the event from September 3-23, 2018. This number will be made up of 100 mostly international volunteers and 100 security and EMS workers.
"The international visitors will be from a variety of countries," says David Brown, who along with his wife, Janet, are in their sixth year of serving as Shelby Mission Camp coordinators. "This is a very exciting mission opportunity. We are going to have 200 people here with the opportunity to share the love of Christ as we extend Cleveland County hospitality to our guests."
SMC has invited local churches to be part of this event in a variety of ways.
"The churches will help with cleaning on a daily basis," says Brown. "We are also planning a nightly 'Coffee Shop' not only to serve desserts, snacks and drinks, but also to have the opportunity to talk and share with our guests after their hard day of work and to be a listening ear, since many will be far from home."
"We are so thankful for the response by churches to help with our coffee shop, cleaning and worship," says Brown. "All of our night coffee shop dates are taken along with all worship times. Some cleaning times are still available along with some afternoon coffee shop times."
Brown is also asking church children's mission groups to make cards that can be placed on the beds to help welcome guests when they check-in.
Numerous area churches and Gardner-Webb University have already committed to help with the event.
"All Christian denominations are invited to be part of this ministry," says Brown. Those interested should call David or Janet for more information and to schedule a time to serve. David can be contacted by cell phone at 919-422-9990 or by email at dbrown@ncbaptist.org. Janet can be reached by cell phone at 919-337-2342, by email at jbrown@ncbaptist.org or by calling the office at 704-487-5599.

By April Hoyle-Shauf

Special to Community First Media