Passion and purpose

WIRED Ministries unites churches, serves communities, nurtures faith

WIRED Ministries, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through acts of kindness and community engagement, has been a catalyst for change since its establishment in 2008. It brings together local churches and student ministries to serve communities with passion and purpose.

WIRED primarily focuses on students from seventh to 12th grade, but it also involves college students as team leads. Each year, registered students are divided into teams that carry out service initiatives in different areas of the Wiregrass region. Accompanied by college leaders and adult volunteers, these teams foster connections among participants from various churches.

The group’s impact isn’t going unnoticed. WIRED Ministries is the latest Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass award recipient.

Expanding worldviews

The unity cultivated within WIRED Ministries bridges gaps that often divide churches. Students from different schools and churches forge meaningful and lasting friendships that extend beyond service projects, expanding their social networks and providing new perspectives.

While WIRED’s primary focus is community service projects, the benefits it offers to students are multifaceted.

“Most of these students live in their own bubbles. They walk in not knowing about the extent of need around them,” says Mark Anderson, former executive director of WIRED. “In taking them places and allowing them to kind of see the underbelly of this area, WIRED exposes them to the vast needs that exist in their community.”

This exposure inspires empathy, compassion and a commitment to making a difference that endures beyond the WIRED experience. Furthermore, the relationships formed through WIRED involvement are an invaluable facet of the program.

“Having several dozen churches joined together for a project is a pretty significant deal,” says Susan Anderson, Mark’s wife and a longtime WIRED volunteer. “Students having that contact and connection with kids across different schools and churches is an important part of it.”

After 15 years of leadership, Mark Anderson stepped down as WIRED’s executive director, passing the baton to a new generation of student pastors connected to the ministry. This transition aligns with the organization’s belief that the ministry thrives when led by those who have experienced its impact firsthand.

WIRED remains steadfast in its commitment to uniting churches, serving communities and nurturing the faith of young individuals. Its impact on countless lives, growth and forged bonds are testaments to its legacy. The recent recognition of WIRED with the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass award humbles the Andersons, who prefer to work quietly behind the scenes. They acknowledge the success of WIRED is a result of selfless volunteers who support its mission.

The Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass award, a partnership between WTVY and Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Foundation honoring unsung heroes in the community, recognizes WIRED’s impact on the lives of young individuals.

“We want to thank WIRED for making a difference in the lives of so many of our young folks,” says WEC COO Brad Kimbro “The lives this ministry touches is an awesome thing for our community, and we know it will continue to inspire others to selfless service.”

The $1,000 check received as part of the award will be donated back to WIRED for future projects.

While Mark and Susan Anderson are no longer in formal leadership positions, they remain committed to supporting and mentoring the new generation of leaders who will carry the ministry forward. They are confident that WIRED will continue leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of participants as it evolves under new leadership. 