History of the Molly McKay Youth House

On my first Sunday on the job as intern with Josh Gaffga in the Youth Ministries office, James Howell walked by me in the sanctuary after worship with a college student in tow.  He said, “This is Molly.  She wants to work with youth or something.”  And with that Molly McKay’s whirlwind, life-changing ministry with youth at DUMC began.

Molly later told me that something spoke to her in worship that day and she knew she needed to get involved with the youth group.  How perfectly characteristic of Molly!  She was-on this day and every day that I knew her-listening hard for God’s voice and working to live out God’s will for her life.

As soon as she arrived at the first youth group gathering, Molly was loved by all.  There was just something magnetic about her smile and her spirit!  Throughout the summer, as youth and youth leaders were pulled by that magnetism, we admired her spirit of openness, her passion for worship, her commitment to discernment, and her unwavering faithfulness.

But there was also more about Molly that drew people near.  She was fun!  And funny!  Two of her favorite words: “Dude!” and “Bow-bow-ba-bow.”  (Ask Rush Beam how to pronounce that second one!)  While other youth leaders sat in meetings to talk about youth ministry, Molly was at the lake with youth!  Often she was with the girls in the Bible study group Hanpuri.  (That’s a Korean word about healing and, at the same time, remembering your own pain and the pain of others.)

In the summer of 2000, Molly crammed in the senior high mission trip to West Virginia, Ichthus worship weekly, lots of Wild Wednesday activities, Hanpuri, Monday night Bible study at Summit, and a few million cups of coffee!  Oh yeah…and she worked in Charlotte, too, with an internship involving graphic art.

On August 17, 2000, Molly was headed back to college for her junior year at Carolina as a journalism student when the accident that took her life occurred.

As soon as news reached Davidson, the youth group gathered.  Through their heartbreak, they reached out to one another, to me and all of their youth leaders, and to Molly’s family.  In the midst of unbearable sadness at Molly’s memorial service, the youth brought a spirit of worship and a glimpse of hope as the led the packed DUMC sanctuary in singing, “In the Secret.”  The song expressed Molly’s desire to always know Christ more, but also spoke of everyone’s sorrow as we longed to know and grow alongside Molly more.

Molly told me that it was her family who taught her about giving.  As they struggled to live without Molly and worked hard to keep her alive in the hearts of many, the McKay’s did so through giving.  In Statesville, Molly’s hometown, the Fifth Street Shelter now has the Molly McKay After School House.  There is a scholarship for a journalism student at Carolina in Molly’s name and a tree planted outside Molly’s dorm in her memory.  The most elaborate project is the Molly McKay Youth House at DUMC.

As the junior high youth group headed home from their mission trip to Tennessee in July 2000, Molly offered the following words to the youth leaders.  I believe she is saying this to us still.

“I pray that the Lord has been gracious and the kids have had their eyes opened to His spirit.”

—————-

In the Molly McKay Youth House…

Within the Molly McKay Youth House there are many hints about Molly that are especially significant to those who knew her…

• There is a watercolor portrait of Molly in the house.  Nearby there is also a plaque with words Molly wrote herself that continue to inspire and comfort those who love her:  “Be encouraged by the fact that God loved you more than the riches, deepenst love we have ever felt or every will feel on this earth.”

• Molly loved admiring and creating art.  She had just finished a semester abroad in Florence, Italy with a focus on art and art history.  Some of the art in the house is art that Molly brought back from her various travels.

• In the summer of 1999, Molly was in Africa selecting young people to receive scholarships.

• From the cafés of Italy to Caribou in Chapel Hill and Summit Coffee in Davidson, Molly loved sipping gourmet coffee in cozy coffee shops!  The bistro and coffee house atmosphere would definitely get Molly’s seal of approval!

• Molly grew up with a pool table that she enjoyed with friends and family alike.

• Cutting edge technology was important to Molly, especially in terms of her graphic artwork and photos and videos to save memories forever.  She video and stereo capabilities at the house are details Molly would love!

• The balcony at the McKay’s condo on the lake was a favorite spot!  It’s only fitting that the balcony at the Molly McKay Youth House can now be enjoyed.

• In June 2000, Molly enjoyed planting flowers around the balcony at the lake condo.  The red cannas she planted still come back every year.  Red cannas also now grow each year in the side garden at the Molly McKay Youth House.

• Molly’s time and study in Italy surely involved many mosaics, and her love of art was closely related to a love of color.  When the Molly McKay Youth House opened in June 2003, those who gathered to remember and celebrate enjoyed creating the colorful patio.  Those who loved Molly wrote words that reminded them of her, messages to her, and symbols of their faith.

• On August 15, 2000, Hanpuri gathered for the last time with Molly.  Molly gave each of the girls a silver charm on a necklace to remind them of things they’d talked and learned about throughout the summer.  Each charm had a word on it, like “Believe,” “Trust,” “Hope,” and others.  Molly had her necklace on when the accident occurred.  Her charm said, “Remember.”  The cornerstone in the patio mosaic is a recreation of Molly’s necklace.